Swimming...

So, growing up my cousins and my family used to go to the pool every day in the summer. Some of my greatest memories. We'd walk to Alta Canyon and spend every possible minute allowed at the pool.
This didn't totally change when we got older. Nearly every Saturday, as many as could make it would meet at Cottonwood Heights to swim. This pool was bigger with platforms to jump off of, and slides to race down.
I have a slight fear of heights, so if I were to jump off a platform I'd pretty much stick to the bottom of the three terrors. I'd watch people like my brother do trick after trick off the other levels. Nolan every time, would do a gainer off the third platform, and then get in trouble because you're only supposed to just jump straight off. Every time, he'd act surprised as though no one had told him that every saturday of every summer.
One day we were all lounging gettin our tan on and I was talking about how I didn't dare jump off the third platform, and out came the dares.
It started off with one person just daring me to do it. The next offering a couple bucks if I did and then another person offering. It got to be about $20 in total if I were to jump off, so I took the dare.
I took the walk over to the platform, the whole time looking at how high it was, I swear the closer I got the higher it got. I started the ascent to the top, my breath getting shorter the higher I got, I'm quite certain it's comparable to Everest, there just isn't as much oxygen that high up.
I make it to the platform, there are a couple of kids in front of me and I less-than-pateintly wait my turn.
The two other kids jump, with screams to join them down. I have to wait for the lifeguard to hold up three fingers to let me know it's my turn to go. I pray that it will never happen. The time comes, the fingers come up. I walk right off the edge. I didn't even look down to my watery grave just walked off the edge.
As I'm floating down I realize, this isn't that bad, it wasn't THAT high, I could do it again even not being dared.
Twas then that my feet hit the water. Let it be known, falling at that velocity, it's important that you tighten your body when you make contact with the water. Flex every muscle so you stay in a uniform line. No one shared this information with me... I continue. My feet hit the water and as though my ankles were tied to two sports cars that drove off in opposite directions I did the splits so dang fast my legs nearly ripped from my body.
I let my body float to the top of the water as the thought of using my legs hurt my heart.
I swim to the side of the pool and climb out to waddle back over to my challengers to at LEAST get the $20 that was hardly worth what I just went through. I lay down sure that my groin will never heal, request my money just to hear, "Oh well I don't have it with me, but I'll get it to you." I never got that money.

What a difference 5 years can make...

I recently had someone ask me, "If you could rewind or go forward 5 years, what would you do?" Without skipping a beat I said, "Fast forward" and I have not strayed from that answer, but I have been thinking about it since then.
5 years ago I was a completely different person, I was insecure, shy, had no experience in the dating world and had little experience in the "real world". BUT 5 years ago was the start to the biggest change of my life. Every year since then I feel like I have improved in so many ways. I have become a much more active person, I am more confident, I am a stronger person in every way.
I get frustrated with life, who doesn't, but I have also realized that my life is pretty great. I have come a long way, and each year I find myself saying, "I can see why I'm at where I am right now, and I wouldn't trade that." I can only believe that it is going to continue to get better. So If things are as great as they are now, and so much better than they were 5 years ago, what is to come in the next 5 years? The only thing I can think is that it will be that much better.
So yes, if I could rewind or fast forward 5 years, I would definitely go forward.


This was my birthday in Vegas. Who would complain about a life surrounded by this good looking group of people. Not this girl!

A Much Needed Break

Due to my little freak out last week, I seriously needed a break from being social. I didn't have plans this last weekend and had no desire to be with the "single crowd". I was contemplating going to St George to see my brother and his family, I also, more seriously, contemplated just telling people I was going out of town and just having a weekend to myself.
On Thursday my friend Hyrum sent me a text about boating on Saturday and I was SOLD. Hyrum is married to one of my very best friends and I don't get to be with her very much so the idea of spending the day with them was IDEAL! I invited my cousin Michelle, and my friend Lauren to come along.
Saturday it was just the 5 of us (and baby Georgia) for 7 hours on the lake. I wakeboarded and am getting much better, I get up every time and am now just working on catching a little air as I re-enter the wake.
It was the perfect day. I got home that night forced myself to stay awake until it was dark. I went to bed around 10 and didn't wake up until 9:30.
It was exactly what I needed. A weekend away with great friends, not worrying about the dang dating scene and just having me time. I could handle the rest of my summer being that way.
Just me July is in full swing!