While I stand at the edge of the diving board, ready to make my mark on the water – and hopefully on the world of competitive diving – a hush takes over. You know that moment when a diver dives and everyone takes a deep breath while they watch her body descend toward the seemingly solid water?
For me, it starts sooner than that, the world seeming to fall away while my thoughts focus on the work I am going to do, on the creak of the board, the spring of my step.
You always used to say just breathe. When you are nervous, just breathe. But, not underwater. That would be bad.
Wherever you are now, looking down from heaven while the rest of us wait to see what happens next, I hope you can appreciate the joke.
This is my J post for the A-Z Challenge. Almost halfway there!
Anne Higa 
Oh, good one. Breathe first, then leap. I like this piece.
Mary at Play off the Page
Good advice 🙂
That’s the trick- Knowing when to breathe, and when to just hold it tight.