Overcoming Fear (the fun way)

So the top picture is what I look like when I'm terrified - clutching onto my life vest and wishing I would disappear into the sand. Funny enough, this shot was taken just as it occurred to me that I was in Cancun on an excursion where I found myself volunteering to drive a 2-person speedboat. I should say that I don't know how to swim and I can't go underwater without holding my nose (yes it's true, despite the fact that I grew up walking distance from the Atlantic). At first I was ALL BRAVADO like "I got this" and then the instructor starting explaining that if you start to lose control, you should speed up. A million things ran through my mind, like "is this guy confusing his English words? Did I misunderstand his accent? How can I get out of this??!!" It didn't make any sense and I started to panic - that's pretty much what typically happens when I don't understand something that I think should be simple - I panic, and freeze. All I wanted to do was back away and make someone else drive, and as I started to move back I heard myself quietly say "I don't think I can do this."  A friend of mine that I didn't know had heard me said "you'll be fine." At that moment I knew I had to face this fear and get in that drivers seat. 

🙀🙀🙀

I started out slow, with trepidation, but needless to say, within minutes I was seeking out the wake of other boats to soar higher and faster. Ultimately I had a blast because I powered through it. It made me realize that I've had this recurring fear with all that I do - I take on big scary goals and then promptly panic and want to kick myself for having done it. And I don't always get it right on the first try (like taking the bar exam - 3rd time's the charm 😂😂😂) or at all (like trying out for the volleyball team), but I have learned that I am strong and I am persistent - and my friend Edith's voice should have been my own - I learned that I AM fine, and I always will be. I will #nevergiveup - and next time I'm faced with a life challenge, I'll be reminding myself that if I can do this, that I can do anything: that's how #bossbitches do.