Jumping Waves

When I was little, my parents took me and my sister to a beach in Biarritz on the Atlantic Ocean in France. Always one to challenge myself, I played at the water's edge, jumping incoming waves and gradually venturing further from shore. Until a bigger wave overwhelmed me. Fortunately, a vigilant lifeguard was standing nearby. He scooped me out and carried me back to my mother, who hadn't even had time to react.

This incident left me with a profound fear during school swimming lessons. In our large public pool, I became tethered to the edge, refusing to venture into open water. While other children completed their exercises, I clung to the border, swimming only along its safety. When instructors encouraged me to let go, panic would set in immediately. They would extend a pole for me to grab, and I'd clutch it desperately as they guided me back to the wall.

Everyone, including myself, seemed to accept that swimming wasn't for me, perhaps assuming confidence would naturally develop with time. I longed to share my classmates' ease and fearlessness in the water, but remained frozen in my fear.

The breakthrough came unexpectedly in the pool of a family member. As I maintained my familiar position along the edge, my aunt stood in the middle and invited me to swim to her. Something felt different this time—the pool was smaller, more intimate, and the challenge seemed manageable. With her encouragement, I finally let go of the wall and swam toward her. We repeated this exercise until I gained enough confidence to swim independently. After crossing that threshold, I discovered the joy of swimming freely and even jumping into the pool—activities that had once seemed impossible.

Her presence proved essential to my progress. While others had simply accepted my limitations, my aunt actively helped me overcome my fear. This experience taught me that sometimes we don't lack ability—we simply need someone to create a safe space and offer support while our confidence grows. Sometimes, all we need is a trusted hand to help us bridge the gap between fear and achievement.