Falling is normal. What’s extraordinary is having the courage to try again.

That morning, the waves weren’t big, but they were enough to make one hesitate. The board slipped away, the body fell, and salty water filled the nose. There was a brief pause—between giving up or getting back up.

Then the next wave came. With unsteady breath, the attempt was made again. Falling once more. Getting back up again.

Until finally, a few seconds standing on the board felt like a small but meaningful victory. Not because of how long it lasted, but because of the courage to try once more.