I Bought the Kayak... and Did the Scary Thing Anyway (aka: Feel the Fear and Paddle Anyway)
- GR
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
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How many times have you had a vision of yourself doing something—starting a hobby, trying a new thing, changing a routine—and you felt it so clearly, you could almost see it?
But then… you didn’t do it.
You delayed. You made logical-sounding excuses. You reasoned with the imaginary audience in your head about why now just wasn’t the time.
For me, that thing was a kayak.
Yep. A kayak. I went once, almost five years ago, with my daughters. I loved it.
And ever since, I’ve had this image of myself just floating peacefully in an inflatable kayak on some quiet lake or pond, minding my business and rowing wherever I feel like. Not white-water adventuring or racing downstream—just calm, chill, nature-laced me time.
For five years I’ve said: “I’m gonna get a kayak.”For five years I didn’t.
It wasn’t fear of water or drowning or failure. It was the weird mix of inertia, overthinking, and inner chatter. Will I actually use it? Will I just buy it and let it collect dust? Is this just another character plotline I won’t develop?
And then I thought—so what if it is? But also, what if it’s not?
What if doing this totally optional thing sparks something unexpected?What if not doing it is quietly shrinking some part of me that wants to begin?
That’s how these things go. Optional, little choices can still change us. We think they won’t matter if we skip them—but what if they do?
So this year, for our 20th anniversary road trip (where we blended a cozy cabin stay in the woods with a little resort city luxury—read all about that trip here 👉 2 Day, 2 Vibes Road Trip), I talked so much about kayaking that I think I backed myself into finally doing it. (Shoutout to my subconscious for the hustle.)
We packed the inflatable kayak in the trunk. I figured: if there’s ever a time, this is it.
We got to the cabin, and hubby immediately changed clothes, grabbed his fishing gear, and headed down to find a good spot.
Me? I was left to “do me.” Which meant standing by the pier, checking out the water options the resort had available (none of which looked like they were calling my city-girl name), and facing the kayak I had packed.
That’s when the familiar voice chimed in:
It’s going to take too long to inflate.
The rules said no water activities after a certain time.
Once it’s wet, you’ll have to wipe it down.
You’re going to look ridiculous dragging it to the pier.
Someone is 100% going to record you falling in and turn it into a TikTok fail video.
But then the braver voice—the one who’s trying to take the wheel more often lately—whispered back:“Screw it. We’re doing this.”
So I did.
I unrolled it. Inflated it. Snapped all the parts together. Switched into my water shoes. Grabbed my waterproof fanny pack. Stood at the cabin door for two solid seconds. Then walked out like this was just what I do now.
And y’all… to anyone watching that day, I was just a woman who kayaks. A natural. No flailing. No falling in. Just floating off into the lake like a little dream fulfilled.
Was it perfect? Nope. Was it freeing? Absolutely.
Sometimes growth isn’t dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet—like choosing to do something small that you’ve always wanted to, even if no one else would notice.Even if it means carrying an awkward bundle of oars and PVC over your shoulder while dodging the imaginary paparazzi.
But that feeling—of following through - of getting on the water anyway, nerves and all?
That’s a win.
Quick Kayak Thoughts (a.k.a. My Honest First-Timer Review)
If you’re kayak-curious but nervous about the whole “inflatable” situation—here’s what I can tell you:
Yes, it has some weight to it, so check the specs before you buy. I carried it by myself, no problem—but it’s not featherlight.
I used the included manual pump, and while an electric one might be faster, I had zero issues. Even as a first-timer, I had it inflated in maybe 15–20 minutes.
Instructions were clear, setup was intuitive, and everything clicked together with no YouTube deep dives required.
Once I got it on the water? Super sturdy. I felt secure, stable, and like I could actually enjoy the float—not just survive it.
Deflating and packing it up was surprisingly quick and not a huge mess. I wiped it down, folded it up, and tucked it back in its bag—done and done.
All in all? If you’ve been holding back because you’re unsure whether an inflatable kayak can deliver the vibes—it can. This one did.
If you’ve been sitting on a “someday” dream, or you’ve put something off that keeps tugging at you… consider this your gentle nudge. Not everything has to be for profit or purpose. Some things are worth doing just because they feel right for you.
So tell me—what have you been wanting to try?
Drop it in the comments, or shoot me a message. Let’s chat about those little dreams we’re done postponing. 💬
If you’ve got kayak questions? Girl, I’ve got you. And if you want to see where we stayed? Catch all the 2-day, 2-vibes magic here.
Until next time,
~ Geri 🛶
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