Following on from my last blog post, where I was rambling on about the benefits of throwing myself in at the deep end, a small amount of clarification. When I say throwing myself in, that sounds like some sort of spontaneous, caution-to-the-wind type of approach to things. This is not an approach that a massive control freak like me is liable to take. When I throw myself in, I tend to do so having fully investigated the landing and emergency exits, and having done a fair amount of preparation for the situation I’m about to commit to. 

Take months of gruelling medical treatment. Cancer works pretty well as preparation for that. Turns out it’s pretty easy to decide to commit to something that’s generally being bandied around as the thing that might save your life. Or take running – good prep for a serious run is an investment in some serious footwear. If that’s not another perfectly good excuse to get those trainers, I don’t know what is. Preparing for those difficult work conversations? Well, I like to take Paddington’s approach and start with a hard stare. If that fails, I can always cheer myself up afterwards with a marmalade sandwich. 

So throwing yourself in at the deep end doesn’t have to mean jumping in with no armbands, which would, in my case particularly,  be a ridiculous idea. I am officially the world’s worst swimmer. The only swimming certificate I possess relates to the race I once won by walking from one side of the shallow end to the other. True fact. But jumping in with armbands, still a commitment, just with a good chance it won’t be a fatal one. In fact, scrap that, even better than the armbands – one of those massive inflatable swans. Then if all else fails you can at least have a lovely time pretending to be Taylor Swift.