My husband and I have just returned from seven days in the beauty of the Florida Keys. We opted for a different type of vacation than just lounging around on a beautiful beach. We love that too, but wanted to try something new. Despite some hesitation, we rented a house
on a canal with it's own dock and rented a boat.
My husband has boated all his life, but boating in the ocean was new and somewhat intimidating. He studied the channels ahead of time so as to (hopefully) avoid shallow sand bars. After some basic preparation, the day came and it was time to just do it.
We had access to both the Gulf side and the Atlantic. The Gulf felt safer because there was always land in sight. The Atlantic loomed large and when we went out far enough, with no land visible, there was nothing to rely on but the tools we had to keep us on course.
Yikes!
What if we get lost? What if the boat dies? What if a huge shark decides he wants our boat? What if ...? What if ...?
Sometimes it's time to stop saying, "What if ...?" and just do it! If you've prepared and calculated the risk, dive in! We can't always predict every single piece of the adventures we say yes to. What fun would that be anyway, if we never had some surprises along the way?
The surprises we encounter delight us. Some challenge us, strengthen us, stretch us. They are often an integral part of the experience we said yes to. We can't say no to journeys that stretch us, just for fear of what MIGHT happen. Life was meant to be lived and that includes getting uncomfortable at times.
Being out in the Atlantic was a fantastic thrill. And none of the above happened. We were immersed in nothing but water, sun and serenity.
I did end up having a shark moment in the Atlantic. I went scuba diving at Looe Key, a coral reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Soon after our descent, we came within fifteen feet of a 5' reef shark. Apparently that is an everyday occurrence there that I was not aware of. I darted behind my dive guide, with every nerve in my body standing to attention. But I was safe and it was an unexpected and unparalleled moment I'll never forget. (FYI, Like most humans, sharks
aren't thinking nearly as much of us as we imagine they are.)
One day, we heeded someone's great suggestion to find Tarpon Belly on the Gulf side. It's an uninhabited island near Cudjoe Key. I was a little afraid to get out of the boat to swim to shore for fear of reef sharks. Can you blame me? I had just seen one up close the day before. I did it anyway (once we moved in and anchored really close).
I was excited but also kind of scared to roam around on a deserted island. I was slightly concerned about the discovery of wild animals or finding an unexpected inhabitant. We explored anyway and found nothing but bliss.
I felt sheer joy running around the small island, delighting in all its beauty and surprises. There were numerous watering holes and inlets with gorgeous views, each one a little different. We found a swing and even a hammock awaiting all daring adventurers. What fun!
What are you contemplating? Calculate the risk and then just do it. Trust! Trust that favor will accompany you. Expect to be cared for and guided. Use your tools and resources to stay on course. That's what they're made for.
Don't try to plan for every possible thing that could go wrong. Most or all of it won't happen anyway. The energy we spend worrying and trying to cover every chance scenario could be spent living life instead.
Oh, if I could only have back half the time I've spent worrying about every little detail and analyzing every aspect of a situation, just in case ... We can't worry about the future and experience present-day joy and delight simultaneously.
Worry or wonder? Today let’s choose wonder. After necessary planning and preparation have been done, let’s choose to let the rest go and really live today.
*I've included a few photos of my adventure below.
