Once

On a summer trip to Norway, I jumped in to the Arctic sea.
I did it because everyone else was doing it (yup) with what looked like ease...
And, as I have mentioned before, I've been swimming since I was a tiny...one of the only things my parents were adamant me and my brothers stuck with...so I figured I'd be strong enough.
The cold was such a shock to the system I had to be pulled back out, gasping and numb.
When I swim in the ocean now, I step into the water slowly and with great care and although I rarely think about that time in Norway, it always feels as though I'm absentmindedly touching a scar.

Once

As a kid, I ran down a hill so fast I couldn't stop myself.
Momentum took over and I lost all ability to command my legs.
My body just kept propelling itself forward.
I still vividly remember the feeling bubbling in the pit of my stomach as I lost control.
I tumbled straight into a bush and a pile of rocks broke my fall leaving a permanent scar on my right knee.
I remember not wanting to leave the shelter of the bush, I was boiling with embarrassment.
It was some time before I let myself loose control like that again.
And it took an even longer time to learn that mistakes aren't good or bad, they're just mistakes.
And you clean them up.
And you go on.

Once

When learning how to dance with a partner my teacher told me
 '"The highest technique is to have no technique. Your movement should be the result of his movement and his the result of yours."
It took me a long time to understand what that meant.

 I've since found out he borrowed that quote!

 "The highest technique is to have no technique. My technique is a result of your technique. My movement is a result of your movement." -- Bruce Lee

  (thanks again for sharing the video David!)

Once

On a family trip to Ireland I fell in love with Irish Dance.
On my return home my mum found a local class for me to attend.
I was besotted for years.
It's still my favorite kind of folk dance, especially the tap.
Dancing those rhythms is like laying your heart beat on the floor.

p.s. THIS is brilliant.

Once Upon a Time

"Unlike what most people think, storytelling does not begin with inventing, it begins with listening" 

- John Berger

Brilliant article about John Berger and his work here