Sometimes you have to do it scared.
Even though it’s scary.
Even though you might fail.
Even though you don’t have all the answers or know all the things.
Sometimes you just have to hold on tight and take the leap.
Even when your heart is racing….
With tears in your eyes, unsure of what will happen.
I learned this lesson a few years ago from my 12-year-old of all people!
We were up north at our family cabin.
He had been DYING to go tubing all summer and today was finally the day. He pulled the tube out to the water, buckled his (almost too-small) life jacket, and got ready to roll.
I was sitting in the front of the boat, watching him as my brother eased the motor into reverse. The engine whirred and clicked into gear. We slowly drifted into the lake. The rope trailing behind us.
Looking back, I saw my son had tears in his eyes!
My heart dropped.
I yelled back to make sure he was OK. He nodded his head, grabbed the handles, took a deep breath, and said he was ready.
Now it was ME who had tears in her eyes.
He was clearly so scared and unsure of how this was going to turn out. But he did it anyway.
The boat took off. He grabbed onto the handles. And as the rope caught and pulled taught I saw a flash of fear... before a huge smile spread across his face.
My brother zipped the boat straight across the bay, creating a wake on either side of the tube.
I heard Holden whoop... was HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE!
He stayed out on the water the rest of the afternoon - even got me out there on the tube!
It was a small moment (the BEST moments) but it made a huge impact on me.
And since that moment, when my nerves get the best of me - I think of this moment - and I do it scared.