face your fear

the brain is a peculiar thing
it holds deep memory
it pushes negative things into the recesses
and brings positive to the forefront
if you allow

despite living beside the seaside for most of my life
I don't swim but adore being next to  the sea

a lake, a river, an ocean

I have a fear of being in or on open water
born from a childhood incident
that I really don't remember
but my brain does
I walk the shoreline
dip my feet and ankles
but that's as far as I go
until this week ....
I felt the time was right to face my fear
with my hand held
I walked into the lake, to my waist
and dipped my shoulders under the water
looking at the mountains from the water line

calm breath, a smile
for a short moment I lifted my feet from the sand
I was safe
and it felt amazing