“You should go in the water, Dave.”
“Nah, putting on a bathing suit is such a pain. I’ll just sit here and take pictures.”
“Not a chance buddy. You’re going in!”
That’s my friend, Steve, insisting that I get off the sidelines and get on the darn field. Or in this case, insisting that I get into the amazing limestone pools of Pamukkale, Turkey.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, Pamukkale (meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish) is a surreal site. You would swear that it’s an ice floe. Cascading down a hill side are these snow-white, limestone terraces, each filled with brilliant, aquamarine water. Apparently Pamukkale’s thermal springs have been drawing visitors since antiquity.
Caving to the peer pressure, I hastily change into my bathing suit and wade into the nearest pool. To my surprise, the water is warm and soothing. As I sit there, feeling my worries seep away, observing the other bathers staking out their own bath spots on the hillside, I let my mind wander. Could Plato, Aristotle and Socrates have soaked in one of these natural tubs, discussing philosophy? (Not likely since they weren’t all contemporaneous.) Still, history converges wonderfully in this historic spot. Thanks for the push, Steve. I needed it.
When was the last time you pushed past your shyness, your natural reservations, and did something outside of your comfort zone? On a trip it’s one thing, but how would it change your life if you did it back at home on a regular basis?