Go Jump in the Lake!!

So, do you have that one thing in life that you've always wanted to do but you've just been too afraid to actually do it?!!  I am sure we all have something, right?  Or is it just me?

Well that thing for me has been right in my backyard for years.  We live on a lake and we use the lake for various adventures like fishing, jet skiing, tubing, boating, floating, etc.  But there is one thing I have always been afraid to do.

To jump in the lake.

I know.

It's totally ridiculous.  I have been in the lake before like when I fall off the tube, or when I fall off the jet ski, or when we go to the sand bar and swim with our dog.... but, I have always been too afraid to jump off our dock into the lake.  Why?  Well, because there are unknown things in there.  Like..... jaws, or human eating snapping turtles, or ..... jaws.  There are things that I can't see in the water which makes me feel nervous.  It makes me feel scared of the unknown and what could be there.  What if there is a fish hook?  What if a fish bites me.  What if I touch the gross, nasty, spongy bottom?  All reasons to completely avoid the unknown.

Until today.

I have been fortunate enough to live next door to one of my best friends for a few years now.  She lived here when we moved in and we "fell in friend love" after that.  She's the friend you can be honest with.  The one who has seen me cry, laugh till I pee, and who has seen me in the morning hours, just after I've rolled out of bed (you know, with zero make-up, teeth not brushed and no bra).  I've seen her kids grow and we've been through happy times, hard times, fun times and today...... a time of conquerment (that is not a word but it is in my head).

So, there it is.  The dock.  The lake.  The unknown.

My girlfriend.... the girl next door, moved away today.  It was her last day in their house as they embark on a fun and exciting new journey for their family.  Lucky for me, it's only going to be a few miles away.  But still, she is moving.  She won't be next door anymore.  Her kids won't come and ring my doorbell.  They won't ride their bikes in front of my shop window anymore and wave.  There won't be "Hi Brenda" screamed from the car, or running over in pajamas for breakfast.  Who knows what she will do now that I won't be next door to borrow spices from.

Her last day at the lake was today.

So there we were.... me in my car with my window down and her jogging next to it as I drove down the street.  A few simple questions were tossed back and forth and then the words I will never forget came from her mouth.....  "You wanna go jump in the lake?".

I think I stuttered for a second and said something like, "Wha, wha, what?".

"Do you wanna go jump in the lake?"

"Are you serious?"

"YES!  Let's go jump in the lake"?

And without even second guessing, I said, "Ok!"

Something I have been afraid to do for years and something that I have pondered and thought about every season was now a quick "YES".  All of the thinking I had done over the years and the desire to do it but the fear that was holding me back just flew out that car window in one breath of "YES"!

So, to the dock we went.

In our clothes.

Down.

To.

The.

Dock.

Without a second thought.
 
We got there and I stood just staring at the unknown.  A rush of heat ran through my whole body and I was thinking of all the things that could be in the water.  We threw out ideas as to who would go first and it was decided that we would jump together.  I mean, is there really a better way?

So we started at the back of the dock, furthest away from the water.  And the countdown began....

She said out loud....

1.......

(I can't believe I am about to do this)

2......

(Am I really going to do this?)

3.....

(Here goes!  Just jump in!)

We ran.  We didn't walk.  We ran.

We ran down the dock towards the water.

We ran, heading towards the unknown, not knowing if we'd come back with all of our limbs, if the sea monster would pull us under or if the mucky ground would suck us in to it's sandy abyss.

We.

Ran.

The last thing I thought was, "Here goes!".

And we jumped!

I hit the water with a warm inviting splash.  I went under and the water swallowed me whole.

And up I popped.

I WAS ALIVE!

I DID IT!

I jumped into the lake!  It was over in a flash.  A split second and it was done.  My years of fears swallowed whole by the triumphant success of just jumping in.

We laughed and pulled ourselves out; clothes dripping.  Mascara running.  A smile across both of our faces.  A fear conquered.  A battle won.  A goodbye made into a memory that will last a lifetime.

I learned 2 important things today.

1.  Cherish your friendships.  Whether you are right next door, a few blocks away or miles apart.  Cherish them.

2.  Conquer that one thing that has held you back.  That one thing that you've always wanted to do but fear has gripped you.  Make each moment.... count.

Today I did something that I have always wanted to do.  Today I did something that I will certainly do again.  My wish for you is that you do something now, that you've always wanted to do.  Maybe it's mending a relationship, or making a phone call.  Maybe it's as easy as conquering a recipe or finishing that project.  Or maybe it's something as simple as jumping in the lake.

Whatever it is for you, I hope you push that fear aside.  Do it.  Push it away.  Conquer it.

Make it count. 

Go jump in the lake!