Be careful - there's alligators in this water ;)

While reading a post on Flowerdust by Anne Jackson about not feeling good enough and insecurities, I was reminded of a day when I took a risk to overcome a major insecurity.

A year or two ago, my husband Jerry and I, along with our friends, Ty and Loretta, took a chance on a late summer day to kayak the Brandywine Creek. As the name would suggest, it's not a big river - but we had rain earlier that week and checking the water levels online assured us that we wouldn't be hitting bottom all day.

The day was perfect - nice warm temps, sunny and better than expected water levels. The scenery was great, as the creek wound its way through pastures, farm land and small towns. We stopped at a small alcove to eat our packed lunch. A few times, we had to get out and drag our kayaks over low spots, but there were also some areas where the water flowed nicely over rocks and we had some rapids to conquer.

(video courtesy of TheBrandywine.com)

Successfully going through or around areas like that is an adrenaline rush and a thrill for me. Thankfully we all did well and stayed dry (expect for the one time, on calm waters, when Loretta bent over too far to avoid a low-hanging branch - but that's another story)

After an hour or two of this perfect day, I was feeling like all was right with the world. I was outdoors doing something physical with great people and shooting rapids. (yes, they were small compared to what my teenage sons do, but they were perfect for me) I felt like I could conquer the world!

The day really was perfect ... did you get that? 

Perfect!  Excellent!

Except ... for one thing ...

Isn't there always something? 

Always an "if only"...

Always a "but"...

I was loving the day ... except for the major disappointment in my life that I couldn't do a darn thing about and the insecurities it caused me to live with. I didn't think I could ever fully enjoy life again, because this hounded my every moment. I felt helpless to move beyond the insecurities it gave me.

We all started the day wearing layers and as the temps rose in the afternoon, everyone began peeling long pants and a shirt or two. My layers of shirts went, but I couldn't bring myself to peel off my long pants. I had pulled on shorts first that morning, but hadn't really planned on taking my long pants off.

Loretta noticed, "Aren't you hot with your long pants on?"

"Yes!" was my instant reply. "But ..."

"Ah, Janet - come on, you can take them off. You're in your kayak, no one will notice and if they do, who cares?" She encouraged. "Come on. Live life for yourself, don't be concerned about what other people think!"

She laughed and continued, "Actually, have some fun with it. Tell people to be careful, there's alligators in the water."

I laughed ... a little - still annoyed and wishing I could shed my fear and fully enjoy the day. I was frustrated at how restricting it was and how helpless it felt to live in the grip of what I thought others would think.

Because of that blasted accident, if I took my long pants off, I'd be looking at this ... and maybe others would see it too.

I talk to myself as I process things and suddenly I said,  

"Who cares?!"

"Who really cares about what my leg looks like? I'm here. I survived the accident! My almost-amputated leg healed. Why am I letting my concern about what others think rule my life?"

My long pants came off and I continued floating downstream - surprised that the world didn't stop. The sun still shone, the water still flowed and the cows still ate grass along the banks of the creek!

We passed a few kayakers taking a break and nothing happened. We exchanged greetings - just like normal. I chuckled to myself realizing how narcissistic I must be to think that the world would stop and/or be different because my deformed leg was now exposed to it.

After getting over myself - I realized I felt freer than I had since 2004.

I liked the feeling of being fully me - fully alive! 

Since I was having a good time, why not take it a step further? I saw a few teens swimming along the bank, so I waited until I floated beside them and said, "Looks like fun!"

Then lifting my leg above the side of my kayak, I added, "But watch out for the alligators. Look what happened the last time I swam here."

Yes, the looks on their faces were priceless!

I fairly sure they googled "Alligators in Brandywine Creek?" when they got home. I hope they've gotten over it by now - Loretta and I were laughing too hard to explain anything as our kayaks floated on downstream.

I still struggle with it at times, but I realize that life is too short to have it and/or what others think rule my life. So thanks Loretta - for helping me take a major step in fully enjoying life again, even when living with disappointments and insecurities.

Any 'alligator bites' in your world that 
cause you to be insecure and not fully live?