That morning, the sea looked calm—almost deceiving. I stood on the sand, watching small waves roll in one by one, my heart pounding like I was about to start a race. The board in my hands felt bigger than usual—or maybe my courage was only halfway there.

“Just try,” I said to myself.

As soon as I stepped into the water, the cold sea woke me up instantly: this was not a comfort zone. The first wave came, I paddled too fast, stood up too quickly… and splash! I fell without any style. Saltwater rushed into my nose, but strangely, I laughed. Not because it was funny, but because failing wasn’t as scary as I had imagined.

Second try. Third try—falling again. But every time I got back up, fear slowly turned into curiosity. Until finally, one wave arrived at the perfect moment. I paddled, stood up slowly, knees shaking, and the board began to glide. The wind touched my face, the sound of the ocean faded, and the world seemed to pause for a few seconds. I stood. Not perfectly. Not for long. But long enough to make me smile wide.

When I fell again, I realized something: trying something new isn’t about being good right away. It’s about daring to enter the water, daring to fall, and being willing to try again. In the sea, I learned that small courage can turn into a big story—one wave at a time 🌊