One of my deepest rooted fears has always been to go kayaking. One of my best friends died unexpectedly when I was 15 because he was trying to save someone who fell out of a kayak, and I’ve never been able to see water the same ever since. I also never, ever, ever wanted to ride in a kayak. I knew it was psychological, but trauma sucks and until now I wasn’t ready to overcome this particular one. But last week, when I went camping with my family, I rode in a kayak for my first time. It was a special, almost sacred-feeling moment, and I ended up having a lot of fun.