After drowning to the point of needing rescue breaths as a child, my girlfriend just climbed a huge mountain of fear.
Tonight that girl got into a pool and after a few tears managed to swim 50 meters.
As a young adult she felt silly, but after talking to her and opening her eyes to the size of her fear she started to trust herself and me.
I just wanted her to get used to the water around her again at a depth she could stand and be clear of the water.
However she, well she had other ideas, with tears still in her eyes she said she wanted to swim the length.
I didnt push her to do this, if anything i tried to reason with her out of it, but she had already made her mind up.
So i hung close to her, knowning if she was to panic i would be there for her.
Every stroke she took she got closer to completing the length, her fear slowly washing away, at the 25m mark she beamed a huge smile, i can do it, she claimed, lets go back!
Again a hung close to her as she swam the second length. Finally touching the wall, the tears of fear now long gone, replaced with happieness and glee, she had climbed a mountain of fear and was so proud of it.
For the next hour she just floated around and got used to the water, swimming a little distance here and there, not to over do it to soon.
I couldnt be happier for her, and feel so proud of her .