Yesterday, I did something a little different.
I went on an airboat tour of the Withlacoochee River.
It’s the kind of thing I’ve seen around since moving to Florida but never actually planned to do. One of those “maybe someday” activities that stays in the background while life goes on as usual.
But yesterday, I said yes to it.
It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday and a friend and I were making plans to go to lunch somewhere on the water. We decided to go on an airboat ride before lunch to enjoy the nice weather even more. I have never been on an airboat and wasn’t really sure what to expect.
The Experience
If you’ve never been on an airboat before, it’s a mix of loud and peaceful in a way that’s hard to explain.
The engine is powerful and noisy, especially when you first take off. The boat skims across the water, moving quickly through areas you wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. It feels a little wild at first.
But then there are moments when things slow down.
Moments when the boat stops or idles, and suddenly it’s quiet again. Just the water, the trees, and whatever wildlife happens to be nearby.
We saw a couple of alligators resting along the riverbank, barely moving. A few turtles sunning themselves on logs. Different kinds of birds I couldn’t name but found myself watching anyway.
Everything felt… still.
Not boring. Not empty.
Just calm.
The Moment that Stood Out the Most
A few times throughout the ride, the boat captain would stop to point out alligators and other wildlife. We started moving again and one of the alligators came up and started swimming parallel to the boat before finally disappearing under the water. That was probably the coolest part of the ride.
The boat then took off at full speed, zig zagging around and spraying us with water, which felt pretty good in the Florida heat.
The Moment That Stayed With Me
As much as I enjoyed being out on the river, the moment that stayed with me the most didn’t actually happen on the water.
It happened afterward, in the gift shop.
They had a baby alligator there that you could hold.
I hesitated for a second. I’m not usually someone who jumps at the chance to hold a reptile. But I decided to try it.
And honestly, it wasn’t what I expected.
It was smaller than I imagined. Light. Still. Not nearly as intimidating as the idea of it.
I think that moment stuck with me because it reminded me how often we build things up in our minds to be bigger or scarier than they actually are.
What I Didn’t Expect
Going into the day, I thought it would just be a fun local activity. Something different to do for an hour.
I didn’t expect it to feel like more than that.
But somewhere between watching the water, noticing the wildlife, and doing something slightly outside my comfort zone, something shifted.
It made me realize that I’m still in the process of building a life here.
Not just living here.
Experiencing it.
The Bigger Reflection
Since moving to Florida, a lot of my routine has been built around familiar things. Work. Home. Paddle boarding when the weather allows. The places I’ve started to recognize.
But experiences like this remind me that there’s still so much here I haven’t explored.
And more importantly, that I have to actually say yes to those things.
Not everything has to be a big trip or a major event. Sometimes it’s just an hour on a river. A new experience. A small moment that breaks up the routine.
But those small moments add something.
They make life feel fuller.
Closing
It wasn’t a life-changing day.
But it was the kind of day that stays with you in a quieter way.
A reminder to try something new.
To be present.
To not overthink things quite so much.
And maybe to say yes a little more often.
💌 Your Turn
When was the last time you tried something new, even something small?
I’d love to hear about it if you feel like sharing.
If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.
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