It may have been 40 years since I last jumped off a diving board. It was never something I could do without anxiety. The slightly elevated board’s spring and height provoked indecision and fear that my body could not be counted on to make the jump safely. But this Covid-19 Summer, something shifted. I credit TCM World’s Heart Harmony Summer program for that.

Yesterday, in the community pool, empty of children now back in school, I took the plunge off that board. On the first jump, a bit of water tickled my airways, bringing me back to my youth. Then came the second jump. I remembered to breathe out that time when hitting the water. And my third—well, that was a dive that could only be described as Olympic.

-Abbe Bensimon