“Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice. Fear kills your ability to see beauty. ”
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In Valentine Thomas’ Ted Talk “Tomorrow, I could die” she asks what would you do if you faced a shark in the water? How would you react? Would you panic, would you remain calm or would you push your dive buddy in front of you?
That was the first time I faced a shark in the water while my friends were spearfishing and even though my life was never in real danger, I think I remained pretty calm. At least I didn’t push my buddy in front of the shark
“Freediving with sharks is the opposite of an adrenaline sport. You need to be calm, balanced, you need to know yourself, be relaxed and in control. That’s the only way to do it.”
This isn’t about the adrenaline, on the contrary, it’s all about finding the calm and the stillness inside when faced with a stressful situation. A few years ago I was struggling with stress and anxiety and I wasn’t in the shape I am in today. I would have never been able to voluntarily jump in the water with sharks and swim towards them. That day, I kept challenging myself to go deeper and stay down longer while John kept telling me to swim closer to the sharks haha 😅 I still need to practice and improve but so far I love everything about freediving, the connection with nature and the peacefulness below the surface
Valentine is a trained lawyer in Canada and worked in finance in London for 6 years. Freediving Thomas Instructor with PADI, professional traveller, accomplished chef, advocate of sustainable eating, she quit her well-paid job in London to travel the world to fish and hunt with locals in order to eat the best food, caught by herself, and to face her deepest fears head on.