June 13, 2022

On encouragement

Two hours ago I was up to my waist in seawater.

Skin below the waterline burned with cold; skin above shivered in weak sun.

I wanted to push my body forwards, off the rocks, and into deeper water, commencing my first wetsuit-free swim of 2022.

My friend Ruby did it. Somehow, that made it seem even harder.

An elderly lady swam leisurely towards us.

You can do it, she said.

Something about the calm, factual way she spoke was powerful. Framed as a choice. No hype, just nonchalant belief.

I pushed off, breathed, and swam.