SUP

We were in Pensacola a few weeks ago for our family beach vacation, and leading up to the trip I had been thinking that I wanted to learn how to paddle board—at the very least stand up on a paddle board. Mostly to say that I was able to do it, but also because I had a secret desire—that in some distant future I might be able to to a SUP yoga class. Dreams!

Imagine my surprise on our first night at the beach when Bryan had someone deliver a paddle board to the house. How dare he support me in my dreams and get me exactly what I wished for?  Now, I had no choice but to try. I reluctantly went out to the bay and proceeded to try to get myself up on that paddle board, and friends, it was ugly! 

I knew to expect to fall, but I was falling before I could even begin to think about getting my legs under myself. And then I was falling as I moved in increments from having my hands and feet in the center of the board to standing upright. Double digit, wipeout, spectacular falls. I lost my sunglasses and hat. My feet were scraped and bleeding. My sons, my husband, my father-in-law all stood on the dock and encouraged me—not a phone in sight. And in true Alison fashion, I ignored them and did it in my own way. I was a little frustrated, but mostly I was laughing at myself for thinking I’d just be able to hop on the board and go.

Eventually, I achieved my first uncertain upright stance. The board wobbled beneath me. My ankles and calved wobbled. I had cramps in the bottoms of my feet. But I was standing up! On a paddle board! Moving forward in a direction I could control! 

And that is how I learned to paddle board. I went until my legs gave out and I could barely haul myself out of the water. The next day I practiced downward dog on the SUP. The day after that, I was floating on the board and drinking my morning coffee. We even brought the board out to the Gulf one morning, and I paddled in those waters as well. It was the best type of being afraid—clear deep water, fish streaming beneath me, dolphins in the distance, and me perfectly alert, doing everything in my power to stand upright.