I TOOK THE PLUNGE!

🎼Cue Katy Perry music.🎶

"I took the plunge and I liked it. Was afraid and it took my breath away..."

When I told people that I was heading down to Charleston on New Years Day to do the Polar Bear Plunge, I was asked why? Several said that I was crazy. And I also got a surprising number of "I don't know how you do that. I wish I could be that brave" responses.

I sent a text to my longtime friend Glenda asking whether she was in or not.  I quickly received one back that just said "Scared but committed!"  I knew then that there was no better person to jump into 40 degree water with. We have been friends since 1991 and were very familiar with each others' strengths and vulnerabilities and have always taken pride in our self-improvement efforts.  We collectively claimed "Scared but Committed" as our theme for 2015. It was our version of Nike's "Just Do It" slogan.

For me, "The Plunge" was pretty symbolic. I've been through some trying times in different phases of my life. All of which the outcomes were so unpredictable and quite surprising. Each situation required some minor decisions and at other times some major decision making.  I made some out of impulse. Others out of fear. But as I got older and was faced with the even bigger decisions (my divorce and filing for bankruptcy), I realize that fear was not an influencer in my decision making processes, but more like a barrier. I was paralyzed!  As frightening as it was to think about leaving my comfort zone, I knew that the price I would pay for staying paralyzed by the fear was too great.

When I arrived at Glenda's, we made coffee and caught up. Later we were joined by another good friend of Glenda's. As we sipped the best Bloody Mary's ever (compliments of my new friend. Marisa), we convened in the living room next to the fire and talked about whether or not we were really going to take the plunge. As Glenda and I bantered back and forth about our fears of doing it, Marisa (an experienced plunger), gently interrupted and described how we would feel if we didn't do it. At this point, it would simply be a personal defeat and how could we possibly kick off 2015 like that.

We nodded in agreement and proceeded to discuss our wardrobe choices and plunging techniques. Do we just jump in with our bathing suit?  Would it be wise to wear yoga pants in the water?  Who's got a wet suit?!!  Most importantly, we discussed what actually constitutes a legitimate "plunge". It was unanimous, "bathing suit only, head under, hair wet!"

And off we went...
Glenda in her babooshka fur hat and Chanel sunglasses, Marisa in her angry birds knit hat and me in my terry cloth lined robe. We walked down the beach about a half mile to the pier reviewing our plan. We expressed the fears that we had about the whole adventure. We reflected on the responses we got from others and the "what ifs" of the upcoming plunge.

As we drew closer, the crowd grew larger and louder. It seemed to be an 60/40 split between participants and spectators.  Although I was still hesitant, I was gradually becoming more comfortable with being a participant. In a weird way, I recognized the spectators and their impact as they cheered us on.  The nay sayers also played a significant role in my head as I used them to fuel the fire of motivation and ultimately prove them wrong. At the same time I took pride in being the participant as people looked at us in awe as we stripped down to our bathing suits despite of the cold temperatures. 

We headed down the edge of the water and as the tide rolled in over my toes, I reconsidered my plan. I said something about the temperature of the water, Glenda agreed but Marisa (the voice of reason) managed to gently remind us again of that defeated feeling we would have if we didn't do it.

The countdown began and as I witnessed others running full force into the low tide waters of Folly Beach, my fellow plungers gave a nod and we were off. I jogged in and quickly realized that I needed to go faster.  The distance I needed to go in order to be well over my head was farther than I thought. So, in order to meet the pre-set plunging criteria, I stopped, dropped and dunked.

As I walked to our meeting place, I noticed my more confident stride. Several people asked how it was, some took pictures. Others commented in awe and reiterated how they could never do it.  We took a team picture of our personal victory. We talked about our individual experiences and our different plunging methods and techniques and how we would plan differently for next year's plunge.  It's funny how something we were so hesitant to do was now being discussed as a potential annual tradition.

We wrapped the day up with wine and New Year's leftovers and indulged in our personal plunging accomplishment.  As I drove home, I realized that my plunging into 2015 experience was way more impactful on me than I had ever expected it to be.  I took the plunge and I actually liked it!   In hindsight the process before the plunge was hauntingly similar to any of my real life challenges. If I dissect it, there are many necessary components that come to mind when overcoming a personal challenge or accomplishing a goal:

-The desire to want more from life.
-Fear
-Good, honest friends with similar personal goals and aren't afraid call things as they see them
-New friends with new perspectives and aren't afraid to voice them
-More fear
-An open mind and the willingness to tackle challenges and work hard for desired achievements.
-Bloody Mary's!

-"The Nay Sayer"

-"The Spectator"

-"The Wannabes"

-Recognition of the participants (team members), the aforementioned and the willingness to influence them through positive actions. 

-More fear and more bloody Mary's.
-The acceptance of the challenges and the opportunities for accomplishment.

-And finally, the ability to celebrate both the failures and successes of life with humility and gratitude. 

To the participants - Just do it!

To the spectators and wannabes -  Try it, you might like it.

To the Nay Sayers - You are the fuel to my fire.  I can only hope that I inspire you in the same way. 

To All:  May 2015 be your year to PLUNGE into happiness, good health, prosperity and personal achievement!  Happy New Year!