Facing fears is tough but can pay off as it did with me on a summer day at my cottage in Baldwin, Michigan. My uncle and I were sitting up on the front porch under the canopy. We were waiting for the rain to pass. It was one of those days that the clouds covered the whole sky but the rain stopped and started. It was very humid and the air felt warm but there was a light breeze.

He said, ”When the rain stops I’ll pull you barefooting.” He always asks me this and I have never wanted to go. I always thought about trying it but never wanted to wipe out. I have seen videos of people wiping out which looked like it could hurt really bad. He asked me,” If I try barefooting then will you try it after me?” I wanted to watch him really bad and I wanted to try it a little bit but was nervous and scared. I said, “I will think about it.”

I thought about it for a while and thought that if I was ever going to go I should go now. I finally decided that I would go. I told him,” I’ll go but only if you go first.” He got whoever wanted to go out of my family, his family, and my grandpa and grandma. It had been stormy all day and the rain had just stopped. The water looked like glass which was perfect for it. We walked down the steps onto the dock and got on the boat.

Once we pulled out of the shore station and drove to one side of the lake we slowed down and finally came to a stop. He dove in the water and swam to the end of the rope that was thrown out. Once he was ready and the rope was tight he yelled,” Hit it.” We took off and he fell before he could get out of the water. He tried three or four times failing not getting close to getting up. Then he said it was my turn I was nervous and scared. I waited for my uncle to get in the boat until I dove in. Once I was in the water, I swam to the end of the rope. Once I was ready the boat took off. I fell before we even got going fast. The boat looped around and I went to the rope again. Once I was straight and I was ready to go I yelled,” Ready.” The boat took off and once my body was out of the water I pushed my feet down. My body popped up and I was so surprised. I was standing on water and it was so much fun. It was so cool for about six seconds before I wiped out.

Even though I wiped out I was glad I tried it. I don’t know if I will again for a while but it showed me that you should face your fears and good things will come out of it. As we cruised back to our dock I sat on the front of the boat. As the wind hit my face I thought about how glad I was because I tried barefooting.