Whenever I’ve thought of the beautiful island of Bora Bora, from all the postcards and photos I’ve seen, I’ve instantly imagined waters of vibrant sapphire and bold indigo. Shades of deep violet mix into its ripples, framed by the island’s explosive sunsets – a palette of oranges, yellows, and pinks blended amongst opaque clouds that inhabit the sky like small, floating islands themselves.
When I arrived to Bora Bora on my family vacation this week, I became face to face with the bay and the sky I’ve pictured in my mind for so long. But, even so, I was reluctant to leap off the planked wooden deck out through the air and into the water. As I stood there, getting ready to jump in at the start of our trip, my feet kept motioning forward, but my mind kept holding me back: “Is the water cold? Is it salty? How salty? Will my eyes burn? How deep is it? Are there lots of fish? Will it be wavy?” – and the list of silly questions that held me back for a good, long couple of minutes, goes on.
Finally, I swallowed my reluctance, caught a running start, closed my eyes, and jumped as high as I could into this slice of paradise waiting at my feet. And when I made that splash into the water and soared downward, I felt free – as if all my hesitations, all my inhibitions, and all the doubts I had in my mind prior to my cannonball, washed away into the water, deep down into the postcard that had come alive before me.
Now, I know that a simple jump into the water on a family vacation doesn’t quite make the cut as a dramatic, momentous, life-changing experience. But for all of you who know me well, you also know that I’m naturally a dramatic person. However, as I reflect on that quick jump and splash, its significance continues to resonate with me, especially at this point of new beginnings and exciting uncertainty in my life.
This specific part of my trip wasn’t about diving or swimming, or even about stunningly picturesque views. It was about taking a small chance, and soaking in the moment that followed. The realist in me can also affirm that the water could have been uncomfortably cold and too salty. But it wasn’t; it was actually warm and not too salty at all, and had just the right amount of motion to it. And more importantly, if I hadn’t chanced it and jumped in, I wouldn’t have known what it would have felt like.
I can confidently speak on behalf of us all that we don’t have to be standing on the edge of a deck in the island of Bora Bora to feel emotions like doubt, reluctance, and hesitation. In one context or another, we all experience these emotions daily. But, no matter how deeply we fear, how still we stand, or how long and timidly we wait, we have the choice to jump. Life – and tropical family vacations, as it seems – are truly about overcoming our hang-ups and the obstacles we create in our minds, to take chances and to see what lies on the other side of our doubts.
So – jump. Close your eyes and leap forward. Because even when you find yourself mid-air, in an open abyss of uncertainty, if you have enough faith in the moment, it can feel like you’re flying.
