When my son was in high school we took a trip to Hawaii to visit a close friend who was stationed there.

During our exploration of the beautiful island, we took a day trip to Hanauma Bay

one of the top snorkeling sites in Hawaii.

My friend had experience snorkeling and of course, being a teenager, my son had no fear. For me, it was a different story.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m usually up for a new adventure and I love exploring in nature. But this time something that I didn’t like held me back.

As we waded out further from shore my anxiety began to pick up.

Maybe it was my encounter with a giant sea turtle the day before while out on a skimboard or simply the fact that I can’t swim very well.

Whatever the reason I was frozen In place while wading in the shallow water.

My friend and my son kept coming back with reports of the amazing fish and extraordinary views that they had deeper out into the bay. They would disappear and return trying to coerce me to go back out with them. But I was content observing the colorful fish circling around my ankles.

My son worked tirelessly to convince me of what I was missing – but because what I could see (where I was comfortable) was all that I knew, there was no way I could comprehend what I would never experience.

The worst part is I don’t even know what I was afraid of. And for years I have battled with what I missed seeing and experiencing that day.

What is keeping you in the shallow? Do you have bigger dreams and greater challenges that you would like to pursue? Then why are you playing it safe? I will tell you what I have learned –

Fear is temporary, regret lasts forever.

It is time to go out into the deep. No one is forcing you to jump in blindly. In fact, take as long as you need, but do it!

Don’t look back on your life 10 years from now wishing you had taken a risk and done something that you were dreaming of but were too afraid to do.

Recently I have been taking some interesting risks. There are times when I don’t even recognize who this new woman is.

But one thing I do know – she is braver and bolder every day.

And more importantly, I love the woman I am becoming and I want you to be able to say the same thing about yourself.

Who do you want to become? What does that woman look like? What does she do?

In the 42nd Psalm the writer longs for something more  – there are things that he remembers as he pours out his soul – Deep is calling, it is time to fill that longing in your heart –

start becoming her today.

Life is too short to live with regret.