How I Went from “I Will Never Paddleboard” to Creating a Business around It

If you’d mentioned paddleboarding to me a few years ago, I’d have laughed and told you it was a hard no. Ok, maybe not laughed—but I definitely would have said no way. Fast forward to now, and I’m paddleboarding every week… and oh yeah, writing a blog all about it. How did that happen?

I’m not new to paddling. Twenty-three years ago, my roommate and I thought it’d be a fantastic idea to rent a rowboat at a local state park. It started out great—we were paddling along, soaking up the sunshine—until we somehow ended up stuck in the middle of the lake, laughing uncontrollably because we couldn’t figure out how to get back to shore. (Spoiler: We eventually made it back.)

Then there was that time during our RV days when my family of four was dry camping on private property. The owners loaned us their kayaks, and we took the kids out for a paddle around the lake just down the street. Oh, and I should mention—both of these experiences were in waters without alligators. That’s kind of an important detail.

aBut none of that prepared me for paddleboarding. Or at least that’s what I thought. In my head, paddleboarding was just an easy way to humiliate yourself—falling into the water in the most awkward, unflattering way possible. And most of the time, people are in their bathing suits, which just adds to the horror. Of course, I had also convinced myself the water would be teeming with alligators or sharks. (Cue all the fail videos of people falling in. Well, minus the sharks.) So, when Robert, my lovely, lovely husband of many years, suggested it, I was like, “Absolutely NOT.”

I said no for a very long time. Then I met the coolest ladies who owned a local shop and took people out on paddle tours. They were so chill and encouraging that I figured if I was ever going to try this, it’d be with them. So, I finally gave in to Robert’s requests and somehow convinced the kids that paddleboarding would be a fun family outing.

And guess what? It actually was fun—and it totally changed my perspective on paddleboarding. Of course, I was shaky and nervous the whole time, even when I was on the water. But Ella Ran—our guide and the best yoga teacher ever—made it all feel doable. She cheered me on, gave me tips, and somehow convinced me I could actually do it. 

After that first paddleboarding trip, I was hooked. That Christmas Eve, we ran over to their shop and bought two paddleboards!

Even then, I was still nervous every time I went out. I mean, we live in Florida, the home of sharks in the ocean and 12-foot gators in freshwater rivers, lakes, and springs. I’d go out, heart racing, and try to focus on the beauty around me instead of all the worst-case scenarios running through my head. I’d sing worship songs to calm myself down and keep paddling anyway, searching for the peace everyone else seemed to find so easily.

So how did paddleboarding go from a “no way” to “I’m scared but doing it anyway” to “I built a business around this”?

The transition started with my old blog. Back when we were RVing, I had a blog about life on the road. I shared about hiking and outdoor adventures, and I loved it. But after we came off the road during the pandemic—and after my battle with cancer—I just couldn’t keep it going. I thought that part of my life was over. 

That lasted for about a year before I got the blogging bug again. I wanted to share everything I was learning with people, especially new paddleboarders who might feel just as intimidated as I did. I remembered what it felt like to be scared and unsure, and I wanted others to know they could do this too. If I could go from anxious and shaky to confident and relaxed, then so could they. And now here I am—with a blog all about paddleboarding and hiking and all the other outdoor things I love.

My approach to life changed post-chemo—as it often does for anyone who’s gone through trauma. I came out the other side as someone deeply aware of the second chance I’d been given. My faith grew stronger, and I became someone who refuses to live an overwhelmed life. Today, I’m a confident, relaxed paddleboarder. But getting here didn’t happen overnight. I got on the water and faced that anxiety and fear head-on. Even when it felt overwhelming, I leaned on God, trusting He would guide me and strengthen me. Slowly, through those small steps and persistence, confidence started to grow.

I don’t even know when it happened, but one day, all the anxiety was just gone. Counseling gave me tools and someone to talk to when I needed it most, but when I was on my own again, I still struggled. That’s when I feel like God stepped in and delivered me from the anxiety. One day, I was anxious and overthinking everything, and the next day, I wasn’t. The fear, the anxiety—it wasn’t there anymore. 

That newfound confidence didn’t just change how I felt on the water—it transformed how I saw myself. This blog is a way for me to share the tips, the gear, the stories, the incredible wildlife—everything I’ve figured out along the way—so others who are curious about paddleboarding might feel encouraged to try it for themselves. My hope is that people will find this space helpful, relatable, and maybe even a little inspiring.

Now, paddling alongside “swamp puppies” (aka alligators) doesn’t feel terrifying—it feels like an adventure. To be clear, I haven’t had one swim right past me yet—but when that day comes, you better believe I’ll write about it.