Jumping In

Last week while perusing through the June 2010 issue of Redbook I found an excerpt from a book called "My Fair Lazy," by Jen Lancaster.

It read as follows:

"If we can't...stop the aging process, then we're obligated to make the most of what we have, and the best way to do that is to expand the depth of our experiences. Do we want to spend the next 30 years waiting to see who wins America's Next Top Model Cycle 45, or do we want to fill our lives with a million new experiences, even if sometimes they're unpredictable or scary or take effort?"

I admit to being an offender - As of late, I only do or try things that exist inside my comfort zone.

Over the weekend, Brian and I made a trip to his parent's pool. As a kid, if I had the opportunity to swim in a pool, I was swimming and jumping off the diving board. I would create a unique move each time I jumped in. Cannonball. Cannonball with a twist. Backwards Jump. Upside down jump. No two jumps were the same. I would do this over and over and over again. For hours. Even if it was raining. Even if it was freezing. I would swim until my mom would drag me from the pool shivering and with purple lips. Usually I was dragged out kicking and screaming, not caring that a thunderstorm was overhead. I would want to swim through it.

Now, as an adult, I'm lucky if I dunk a toe in the water. I am guilty of the old lady pat down - a little cold water on the chest, pat pat on the tummy and a wipe down of the arms, and I'm back on the chair.

This weekend was different. The weather was hot, but the water was cold. I walked over to the diving board.

Brian asked, "where are you going?"

"To the diving board," I replied.

"You are?"

I then told him about the excerpt I read and how instead of being such a 'fraidy cat baby, I should jump in and enjoy the water because life is short and what is better than jumping into a sparkling pool of cold water on a hot summer day?

He rolled his eyes and shook his head as if to say, "another one of your cockamamie ideas."

I stood at the edge of the diving board with my toes hanging from the edge. I looked down and tried to think of the last time I actually jumped into a pool instead of floating in from the stairs. I couldn't remember when that was. I bent my knees, and jack knifed into the cold water.

Other than the bikini bottom water wedgie, and letting go of my fear of the freezing cold water - it was pretty darn awesome.

When was the last time you jumped in?