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Leap of Faith

This incident happened about eight years ago. It feels like a lifetime . 

It was a bright summer day. The blue Mediterranean Sea was calm, the waves gently lapping on the shore. Spain is truly a beautiful country and although I didn’t understand much of the language , I did have a few words which I would excitedly use it whenever I can - “Hola” , “Buenos Dias”, “Como Esta” , “Mucho Gracias”. I l used to love listening to the locals speak even though I had no idea what they were saying. 
On this fateful day, my friend took me the PADI office to get me to go scuba diving with him. 
I was scared and excited all the at the same time. I changed in to my diving gear and off we went to the diving spot on the motorboat with our instructors. The boat roared and splashed spraying the sea water on me. 
After we reached the diving spot, we were asked to go in to the water. I just sat there, contemplating what to do. My instructor then got me into the water . As I fell backward from the boat in to the sea in a fraction of second, I couldn't fathom what was happening at all. I knew that I couldn't breathe. I had completely forgotten that I needed to breathe through my mouth in my state of panic.Looking for something to grab on , I held on to the side of the boat, breathing again through my mouth. My kind and lovely instructor saw that I was struggling so he very gently dragged me towards the shore. I was ready to give up by then. 
However, he gently reminded me of the breathing techniques and helped me breathe underwater. I relaxed a bit and then we moved further in to the sea, starting with a crawl on the sea bed, eventually swimming. Then I was suddenly aware of the silence, the deafening silence. I saw. the colourful shoals of fishes and other sea creatures right in front of me. It was truly magical as if I was in a Disney movie. I spent about 45 mins under water mesmerised by its beauty and the silence that touched my soul. That experience changed me as a person. I felt deeply connected with nature. 




Encouraged by this experience, I decided to do it again. This time, in Goa in the Arabian Sea. 
I was more prepared the second time. I even had a training in a swimming pool the day before the dive.  I thought I was ready for this dive. Little did I know that I was going to trigger myself a teeny tiny panic attack. I went down for the first dive, without much of a problem. The water was murky and visibility was poor, the corals were sharp. I came out of the water , but I didn't have the same experience that I did the first time. 
I came out of the water, and I wasn't at all ready for the second dive.  The second dive was to go deeper in to the sea and explore a sunken ship that came with a great story. I remember sitting at the corner of the boat willing myself to go in to the water but not able to move. My friend encouraged but left the decision to me. I forced myself to go to the end of the boat where I had to take the step to go in to the water. I stood at the edge of the boat still unable to take the step, the oxygen tank on my back and the stones around my waist weighing me down. 
Then , I took the "Leap of Faith". I took that step off the boat and went inside the water and as soon as I was inside the water , a sense of relief spread all over me. I was no longer afraid. 
I got to see the sunken ship and I explored in and around the ship.Time flew because I was in one again with the silence, my soul connected with nature. 

Looking back , I can now see that I forced myself to face some of my fears without really knowing what I was doing. I became the person I am today because of my experiences. 

When you are scared, and all you want to do is run , will you feel the fear and still do it ? 

Will YOU take your leap of Faith?

Comments

  1. Unknown10 November 2018 at 04:28

    I'd like to take my leap of faith soon. Thanks for this inspiring write-up.

    ReplyDelete

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