Have you ever felt that quiet pull toward something bold or different—something just outside your comfort zone—but never quite found the courage to act on it?
It could be anything: skydiving, changing careers, starting a new routine, or even something as simple as morning juicing. The idea lives in your mind, but somehow life, logic, fear, and a thousand small excuses get in the way.
For me, that thing was cold plunging.
For years, my friend Debbie had been telling me about the magic of her daily cold ocean swims in Cape Town—365 days a year. She spoke about the energy, the clarity, the invigoration, the sense of aliveness. I always said I’d try it… and then promptly didn’t. It was too early. Too cold. Too uncomfortable. Too risky. I convinced myself I’d get sick. I told myself my body shouldn’t be “shocked.” I had an excuse for every season and every tide.
Until December 2024.
In a rare moment of courage (or perhaps exhaustion from my own excuses), I finally committed. My deal with myself was simple: If it’s unbearable, I can always get out quickly. No pressure. No heroics.
Debbie belongs to a remarkable group of swimmers who call themselves the “Waterbabies.” They meet every morning—rain or shine—at either 7:00, 7:30, or 8:00 a.m. That morning, we met at Camps Bay, one of Cape Town’s most breathtaking beaches. From the moment I arrived, I felt it: warmth before the cold, belonging before the plunge. The group welcomed me with open arms, laughter, and an energy that felt both grounded and joyful. I instantly knew this was more than a swim—it was a community.
Into the sea we went.
The water was about 9-10°C (49-50°F). The initial shock was real—sharp, breath-stealing, electric. And then something remarkable happened. My body adapted. The numbness came, followed by a strange calm. My breathing slowed. My mind quieted. The mountains, the ocean, the horizon—it was all breathtaking. People were chatting, laughing, connecting, fully present.
Then someone said, “We’ve done our 20 minutes.”
I was stunned.
Twenty minutes had passed.
Twenty minutes in cold water.
Twenty minutes of conversation, connection, stillness, laughter, and awe.
I had been so present, so immersed, so alive, that I hadn’t noticed the time at all.
That was my introduction to cold plunging—and to the water babies.
I was completely hooked.
The next morning, I couldn’t wait to go back. And now, every time I visit Cape Town, the very first thing I do is find out where the group is meeting so I can join them again. It has become, quite literally, one of the most life-changing experiences of my life.
And I’m sharing this story for a reason.
First: to encourage you to take your own plunge—whatever that looks like.
Not necessarily into cold water, but into something new. Something brave. Something unfamiliar.
Neuroscience strongly supports this. In a recent Netflix documentary, Chris Pratt powerfully explores how novelty, challenge, and discomfort stimulate the brain, build neural plasticity, and strengthen resilience. Trying new things literally rewires your brain—enhancing cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, confidence, and adaptability. Growth doesn’t happen in comfort; it happens in expansion. When we stretch ourselves, our brains grow with us.
Second: to remind us of the extraordinary power of community.
In Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s new book on health, longevity, and well-being, he makes a compelling, science-backed case that relationships, belonging, and social connection are not “nice extras”—they are core pillars of long-term health and quality of life. Community, he explains, directly impacts longevity, mental health, immune function, and overall life satisfaction.
The water babies embody this research in real life.
They greet each other every morning with hugs.
They swim together.
They share the cold.
They meet for coffee afterward.
They talk about life—everything and anything.
What they’ve created is something rare and beautiful: a genuine, loving, inclusive community built on consistency, presence, and care.
There is no judgment.
No hierarchy.
No performance.
Just humans, in bathing suits, in cold water—stripped of status, titles, and trappings. A great leveler.
Different ages. Different cultures. Different backgrounds. Different beliefs.
One shared intention: connection.
A desire to belong.
A desire to show up.
A desire to be part of something real.
What they’ve built is something no money can buy:
Authentic friendship.
True belonging.
Human warmth—even in cold water.
So yes—take the plunge.
Into cold water.
Into something new.
Into community.
Into courage.
Into discomfort.
Into growth.
Into connection.
Because sometimes the most life-changing experiences begin with a single brave step into the unknown—and the most unexpected warmth is found in the cold.
