Me and the Sea

I am from the sea... It may sound a little strange, but it's true. I love the sea. I started going to the sea on my mother's back, in the waves of Ericeira, when I didn't even know how to swim. I've always felt that the sea was my friend, that it would always protect me.

I grew up in Ericeira, always with the sea by my side, constantly challenging it. Sometimes, it doesn't like that; after all, it is Lord Sea. It's the infinite blue, the cradle of species that we often can't even pronounce. It's the stage for many joys and also great sorrows. Deep down, the sea is like me... anything but indifferent.

As I challenged it countless times, Lord Sea knew that sometimes I needed to learn a lesson. There were moments of pure stress between me and it, moments when I felt its power and its fury. But somehow, I always managed to come back. I felt that we had made peace and were buddies again...

As I love the sea, when I found out through the company I work for that there were people who practiced open water swimming, I decided to give it a try. The first time, I almost couldn't reach Palmeira da Duquesa, but I loved the feeling. The sea welcomed me with open arms, so I decided to take a chance and take lessons.

As primeiras aulas foram extremamente difíceis. Achei mesmo que, afinal, não sabia nadar… e ainda acho 😊. Mas cada desafio superado fez me querer ir mais além para o mar e sobretudo explorar  a sua imensidão.

Mas o que eu quero partilhar com todos é a sensação de liberdade que temos quando nadamos no mar quando sentimos as ondas a embalarem-nos, quando vemos peixes, quando nos desafiamos a ir mais além … é  MUITO mesmo …é a melhor sensação do mundo, e o  que eu queria partilhar com todos è:  a todas as pessoas que querem ter esta experiencia, mas não o fazem por receio … eu quero dizer / Gritar : VENHAM … é Brutal , nós estamos aqui para vos acolhermos e para vos guiarmos nos 1º passos , não deixem de o fazer por medo , porque medo temos todos … todos os dias de tudo e mais alguma coisa ,o que  temos que fazer e o que  queremos é olhar o MEDO na cara e Dizer em voz bem Alta : EU VOU / VEM COMIGO  TAMBÉM.

Joana Esteves