The Power of Choice and Surrendering to the Tide.

She swam eastward, discovering that the water was always warmer there. The currents of her surroundings often left her feeling lost, as if she were floundering about like a fish. She was unsure which direction was her true north.

She found herself swimming in circles, revisiting the same locations because they were familiar to her. The same group of trees and tall grasses that grew from the muddy waters on the other side of the riverbank brought her comfort and contentment during her daily swim.

She knew that if she continued swimming north, she could reach new depths within herself, but this thought terrified her. "If only I could push myself a little further," she often wondered.

Closing her eyes, she let the magic of hope consume her entirely. She smiled in delight, feeling chills radiating through her body. "This is what love feels like," she thought.

As she opened her eyes, she noticed the same surroundings and the self-limiting beliefs creeping back in. She swam towards the same tall grasses and held her knees to her chest, feeling a familiar sadness wash over her. "It is safer here anyway," she thought.

Suddenly, two large black tentacles emerged from the water and clamped down on her ankles. She grabbed onto the reeds for support, but they were too weak. Her hands began to slide, and she was swept away into the murky water. She had no idea where she was going and couldn't breathe. The beast untangled from her, and she swam frantically to the surface. She had lost all sense of direction and found herself in open water, her only choice was to swim with the current in hopes of finding land.

After struggling for what seemed like an hour, she found herself no closer to shore. She heard a voice saying, "What if you float?" and listened. She lay on her back and let the waves carry her tired body.

She soon collided into rocks that left their marks on her back. Standing on wobbly knees, she stumbled onto a beach, wondering how far she had drifted into the unknown. Frozen to her bones, she gathered some driftwood and built a fire, which slowly thawed her limbs.

She heard the muffled voice of a man in the trees and distant barking. Suddenly, his figure emerged from the foliage, along with his companion. "Hello," he said with furrowed brows, clearly confused by her presence. She studied him closely, feeling both panic and a deep sense of peace that she had only experienced in the comforts of her favorite swimming spot.

"Perhaps new comforts can be found in unfamiliar places," whispered the voice. He held out his hand, and she took it, uncertain of where she was going but knowing where she had been.

We have the power to choose. We don't always have the directions or know how we will get to our destination, but true power comes from making the choice and setting a goal. Courage does not mean being fearless; it means being afraid, working through it, and going after what we want.