Friday, January 11, 2013

Plunging In

My Five Minute Friday on: Dive

It was a warm, July morning at the swim club. For several summers we took swimming lessons there. I was probably seven or eight years old and my group was practicing diving.

Since we were well past introductory diving, our instructor took us to the "diving pool" to practice diving off the small springboard. After several adequate attempts, the instructor allowed anyone who was interested to go off the high diving board.

I had always been curious about going off the high dive, so I decided to give it a try.

I remember feeling nervous as I climbed the long ladder. It was so high.

I'm not sure where I found the courage to leave the board, but this little seven year old dove. I stupidly, naively dove off — head first. I'm sure it wasn't a pretty sight.

I entered the water with a smack! I remember immediately feeling a sharp, stingy sensation on my face and arms from the belly flop my dive had become. I fought my way to the surface and cried my way to the pool's edge.

I am fairly certain I have not, in all my years since, gone off a high dive.

Choosing to dive off the high board that day felt like a mistake. I'm not sure how deeply that incident affected me, but it's certainly stayed with me all these years.

When I think of that day I am amazed that I even tried it. But like the dive requires, I plunged in, head first knowing success or failure, there was no going back.

And I hope that is the way I come at life. Willing to try, even though it may not turn out the way I imagined.




















Linking up with Lisa-Jo…
Five Minute Friday

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Visiting from Lisa-Jo's. I never had the courage to dive from the high dive--just jumped. What courage! Love your story.

Sarah said...

'Willing to try, even though it may not turn out the way I imagined.' I love this line! I want to live my life like this too! You dove off the high dive, something I've never been brave enough to try. Thanks for visiting my post and commenting. It means a lot to me.
~Sarah @ Sundry&Specific
http://sudryandspecific.wordpress.com/

Unknown said...

Thank you for visiting!

Unknown said...

You never forget the first time. You never forget the feel of that force on the top of your head, either. I wish I still had much of my crazy courage from my youth - when I didn't know any better than to just jump. So glad you came by so I could read this.

Unknown said...

Sarah: Glad we can encourage each other!

Amy: Yes, crazy courage! I love that. Adults know too much, understand the risks. Oh, to be innocent again!

Melanie said...

I got nervous going up there with you!
Yes, I too hope that I dive into life like that.
Happy Friday.

Pamela said...

I remember my first (and maybe last). It took me so long to come back up that my pregnant instructor came in after me! I want to always dive into God's will--even if he has to come in after me!

EJ Reading said...

Love this story! Let's dive into life together and pray we don't belly-flop!

Unknown said...

Thanks for stopping by Melanie, Pamela, and EJ! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

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