The click is shocking — but I’m hooked. Facing my fear of drowning & how I became a superhero with goggles — “Mom, just do it!” I stretched my goggles over my head, tiptoed into the Pacific Ocean, past my knees, thighs, and then above my belly button. I wanted to quit right there — the water was freezing. My 10-year old son dived in and splashed me — I screamed, he…

The click is sudden but when you get it, it empowers you. — I remember talking to my co-worker who was the same height with a similar body frame to mine, over two decades younger, and 20 pounds lighter than me. I told her I wanted to lose my belly fat but that I’d never return to the same weight I was at…

SWPSC: From a sizzling summer prompt to one of the hottest little publications on the platform — the top highlights of the year — Standing still — clouds under my toes. Coming full circle with my headstand addiction. My first headstand in this publication was posted in my Submission Guidelines, and this headstand celebrates the blissful completion of our first year. I asked a friend to hold the lensball with his fingertips, and his daughter took the photo. …

The “gift” came in a small brown box and arrived at noon — I watch my father insert the needle into my mother’s belly. She’s sitting at the kitchen table, hungry for the next dose. The ugly jagged pink scar peers out from underneath her sweater when she lifts it. …

Earning the right to survive | Freestyle — The grind uphill is never easy. Every year from late spring to early fall — residents and tourists head up to Grouse Mountain to hike “The Grind.” …

September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Comfort” — River swimming — sublime, comfortably numb moment. Open water swimming is a spectacular feeling, but when it comes to swimming in a triathlon, it’s a different experience. On race day, I was overwhelmed and stressed by the swarm of 65 splashing bodies surrounding me in the salty, murky Pacific Ocean. …

Chasing away self-doubt to achieve progress: The value of practicing patience — I couldn’t sleep the night before the race. I crawled into bed at 1:13 am, my alarm chimed at 5 am, and I’d be starting the triathlon in two hours. …

SWPSC: “Shine!” & Freestyle Stories — Summer Conclusion — Stanley Park shines through crystal ball. Summer’s almost over, but I predict my view of Vancouver’s famous Stanley Park will transform through fall, winter, and spring, as will the stories in this publication. Summer “Shine!” Challenge Conclusion Gratitude to our editors, Ellie Jacobson, Sandi Parsons & Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, for their ongoing efforts in handling submissions for the past…

Summer Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shine!” — A paddle, conversation, laughter, and exercise. I spent an afternoon paddleboarding with a friend (we shared a board) and stopped at this spot for a swim. …