Swimming anyone?

The beach has always been one of my favorite places.
You get to hear the waves crashing.
You get to smell that distinct scent of sea breeze.
You get to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the world.

There's something in the fresh air that sets you up in an awfully good mood.
There's something about the way the waters caress the shores, gentle and sweet.
There's a certain magic as you make those walks along the beach with the moonlight glowing on you. There's a faint sound of tranquility as the sound of the waves lull you to sleep and sends you off to dreamland.

This is the beauty the beach holds when you look at it out of the waters. But what about when you're in the water? What beauty lies beneath?

Everyone loves the beach but only a few are willing to explore the not-so-safe side - swimming.
We love looking and going to the beach and yet we are scared of finding out what else it can offer us.

Not all of us are experts in swimming, some don't even know how. I'm no expert in the matter. I know the basics in swimming but not enough to save my own life. I've been taught lessons and others are gained through experience. This probably explains why some of us are wary of going into the deeper end of the sea, afraid we'd drown.

So we wade and we wade, hoping we get enough fun out of it. And we do, but not as grand as those who have dared to go deeper. They've seen what the sea really offers and the majestic beauty it holds. They are given contentment and bliss, something waders could never get.

I've tried going to the deeper ends once, to see what lies beyond the safe zone.
What i saw was far greater than what i expected. It does give you contentment and it does give you bliss. But since I'm not that equipped with the skills, i began to feel the first signs of panic as I realized I was about to drown. I gathered all strength, courage, prayers and patience as I fought to save my life. There's no one out there to help you. You're on your own out there. Probably, the most important thing you must have is willpower. Without this, I'd have given in to the sea's sweet serenade as it swallows me whole.

I managed to get myself back to shore, exhausted, drained and downright tired.
It dawns unto you that it would have been best if you'd have stayed on the safe side. You wouldn't have gotten hurt.
But will being safe be enough?
Knowing that you're missing a whole lot out there?
Or is the pain enough to compensate for the beauty you just found?

We are all afraid of drowning. We are all afraid of not being able to pull ourselves back to shore.
But if we live in fear, we will never get to have the satisfaction and bliss that the deeper ends hold. Until we get the courage to face the challenge, we are only able to look at the sea but we will never get to experience the sea.

The beach is a romantic place.
But does the romance carry on once you're in the waters?
Or will it remain outside, just for everyone to see and not feel?
I guess we'll never know unless we brave ourselves to take on a swim..
towards the deeper end.