It was my first training session at the beach for a challenge that I’ve signed up for – The Can Too 1km ocean swim.

And so last Saturday I turned up - and fell apart. My reaction blindsided me to be honest. After all, I’m not scared of the sea – I grew up in Sydney. But then again, I only ever go up to my waist. And I’m not a strong swimmer – never have been. But still, I was crying even before I got my toes wet. Everyone was so kind but…it was kind of embarrassing. Let’s not even visit what happened when I went in the water. It felt totally irrational.

And then I remembered. This is what getting out of my comfort zone looks like for me. Physical challenges are my Achilles’ heel. The fear, the anxiety, and the feelings of panic – they’re stretching, strengthening, and evolving me.

As a coach, I consistently work with clients to embrace the discomfort that comes with growth. It’s been a while for me. But it’s time to walk the talk (again).

What I know for sure is that when you do something that you never thought you could, you change the way you see yourself. And that is powerful. And wholly worthwhile. Even if it’s hard.

memento vivere

P.S If you would like to donate a small amount to fund cancer research and support (my attempts) to swim, the link is below:
https://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/tesseveringham