I’m going to New Orleans in 2 weeks, but not to ‘party’…
The National Drowning Prevention Association holds an annual conference to discuss all things swimming and drowning related. This year it is being held in April in New Orleans.
I never imagined that such a conference even existed, and when I first heard about it last year, I couldn’t imagine wanting to go. I thought it would be pure torture. I still don’t want to go.
However, as my Open Water Safety project took shape and began to come to life, I realized I need to network with others, to make this project as effective as possible, and to help me make progress more quickly.
There are so many reasons to NOT go –
- It will be hard emotionally. My son’s life was about so much, and I really don’t like focusing on his last few minutes. It’s much easier for me to stay busy with other things – and with 4 children at home and a full-time real estate business, there is no shortage of other things.
- It will cost a lot, relative to our income. The last few months especially have been painfully tight. And we’re down to one car, and are waiting for funds to be able to repair the second one.
- Being chemically-sensitive, travel is very hard on me physically. From the fumes of the jet coming into the cabin, to the perfumes and colognes that I can’t avoid, to the cleaners & room fresheners that hotels use – I usually spend much of the time with a horrible headache. I really don’t like traveling away from the safety of my home.
And yet I feel compelled – as difficult as it was to share Nathan’s drowning story during my presentations on open water safety 6 times last week, it was also very cathartic. Speaking with the teens afterward and hearing the impact it made on them made it all worthwhile. I want to make future presentations as impactful as possible. I also want to make swim lessons available to all Texas students. For that to happen, I have to network with others. We are stronger together.
And so I bought my ticket today. Trusting the Lord will provide the rest of the needed finances in time, as well as our mortgage money.
“Where He may lead, I’ll follow. My trust in Him repose…”