I’ve never really held back from jumping in at the deep end, with both feet, not worrying whether in fact I can swim or not. I created my own self-belief long ago. Something I think I learnt from a very early age; maybe 4-5 years old?
Preschool, one bright sunny afternoon, poolside, I took a huge flying leap towards some random guy in the pool my sister was dating who, arms open ready to catch me, turned at the very second I flew over his shoulders, only to land in the water with a loud splash.
Far from drowning, I found myself laughing happily as I paddled toward the side of the pool as if I’d been doing this forever. Only to climb out, and scream at the man to catch me. And that’s how I learnt to swim. Not a moments thought or hesitation, I didn’t know any better.
No one had chided me, or warned me not jump in the pool if I couldn’t swim. I just assumed as everyone else could swim, I could swim. And be damned if I didn’t do just that. Perfecting my jump, and swim technique through out that afternoon till I could splash around happily with all the big kids, gulping in half the pool in the process, but having an absolutely marvellous time.
Basically, that’s how it’s been with everything I’ve ever done in my life.
I jumped straight in with a certain believe, I can do this.
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