Recently on a group trip to Marbella with our coach, I was lying in bed just before my alarm went off at 6:30 thinking, “Does it really matter if I don’t do the sea dip with the group this morning? It’s so nice and warm here, and I could treat myself to a couple of extra hours in bed. I mean, it’s been a long year and I’ve worked hard. I deserve a rest…”
Then the other part of my brain kicked off.
“Get your arse out of bed! You know you’ll feel amazing afterwards - remember how you felt after that sea dip in South Shields last December? There’s no way it’ll feel as difficult as that - you’re in Spain for f*cks sake!”
So, bossy Vicki got her own way, and I emerged from under the toasty duvet.
“Do you want to swim?” I asked Kev
“No” he said emphatically.
So, I got up and went about finding my swim gear.
A couple of minutes later, Kev got out of bed.
“I didn’t think you wanted to swim”, I said.
“You asked me if I want to”, he said, “and I said I didn’t. I don’t want to, but I’m going anyway”
So we walked down to the Puerto Banus beach in the darkness, still feeling a degree of trepidation about plunging into the cold, blackness that stretched out before us.
A little later, our coach Paul and the group arrived, and we did a lovely meditation lying on the sand as the wind blew around us, and little drops of rain fell on our faces.
Then, after some forceful breathing exercises we all made a run for the sea.
It took my breath away as the cold water hit my waist, and I really didn’t want to put my shoulders under, but when I was under it felt amazing!
We emerged tingling and full of energy.
As we walked home, Kev said, “Thanks for doing this. I wouldn’t have done it without you.”
I was glad I listened to my braver voice this morning.
Sometimes, you need to do uncomfortable things in order to feel like you’re growing.
And the more things you do, the more you trust you can do even more things.
I’m not saying I achieved anything brave today and deserve a medal, but I’m glad I had that sea dip.