How many of you have ever been on an adventure that completely changed the your view towards life? One moment, you’re having fun, and the next, you’re questioning everything.
That’s exactly what happened to me two years ago on a trip to Musandam. It was one of those great moments – calm waters, blue skies and excitement of trying something new.
One of the activities was the banana boat ride. Now, if you haven’t tried it before, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a banana-shaped boat tied to a speedboat that drags you across the water at high speed… until it flips, sending everyone crashing into the sea.
I was excited. I had never done something this adventurous before. The ride started, and within minutes, we were flying across the waves.The boat sailed for a span of 15 to 20 minutes in high speed, when all of sudden – Swooooooooshhhhhh! The rope tied to the banana boat was left lose.
I clung to my life jacket as if it were the only thing keeping me alive, my fingers digging into the fabric with desperation. My heart pounded in my chest, beating against my ribs like a warning drum. Salt water burned my nostrils.
Then, without mercy, the wave came.
A monstrous force, towering above me, roared like an angry beast. It swallowed me whole. For a split second, I felt weightless—suspended in chaos.
My mind... blanked out.
Terror gripped me as I tumbled, disoriented and powerless. I gasped, but instead of air, my lungs filled with the choking taste of saltwater. It stung my eyes, blurred my vision. I couldn’t tell which way was up.
All around me, there was only murky, yellow-tinged water. I stretched my arms, reaching for something—anything—to hold onto, but there was only emptiness. Panic clawed at me, whispering that this was it. That I would never break free.
I felt….helpless.
Would I ever make it out? Would I ever breathe again?
Something changed in me right then. I kicked as hard as I could, held onto my life jacket, and finally broke through the surface, gasping for air. I was alive. But I wasn’t the same person anymore.
That experience shook me in ways I never expected. It forced me to confront three things about myself that I never really questioned before.
First—my faith. I wasn’t someone who prayed regularly or gave much thought to God. But in that moment, when I felt powerless, the first thing I did when I surfaced was thank God. Since that day, prayer has become a part of my daily life.
Second—my fear of failure. Growing up, I was someone who avoided risks. Whether it was in school, work, or life, I always played it safe because I was scared of failing. But when you’re staring at the ocean, struggling to stay afloat, failure isn’t an option. You fight, you push, and you rise. That’s how I live my life now. I take risks. I embrace challenges.
And third—my family. Before this, I never really thought much about my role in my household. But after that experience, I realized how fragile life is. I started thinking about my family’s well-being. And when I started earning, I have made sure to contribute every month.
So, why am I telling you this?
Because sometimes, it takes a moment of near disaster to wake us up. But we don’t have to wait for that moment. We can choose to change our perspective now. That is - to embrace faith, to take risks and to care for those who matter.
Musandam changed me. What will change you?
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