Simona Pascu

MISSION COMPLETED: 12 Dips in December – Dip #12 Done!

Monday 29th Dec 12 Dips in December – Dip #12 Done! This post will be in Romanian, but I hope translation function will help you to read it! Uite că am ajuns și la ultima intrare în mare pentru Irish Heart Foundation. Fiind ultima, am vrut să o fac specială. De data aceasta, vreau să vorbesc despre tatăl meu – el este motivul principal pentru care m-am înscris în această provocare. Tatăl meu a fost cel mai minunat om care a existat pe Pământ. Poate sunt subiectivă, dar pentru mine el a însemnat totul. Și, chiar dacă au trecut aproape 20 de ani de când a murit, încă nu am învățat să trăiesc cu lipsa lui. El m-a învățat ce înseamnă bunătatea, respectul pentru cuvântul dat, determinarea de a reuși în tot ceea ce îți propui. M-a învățat blândețea, iubirea… și, din păcate, și suferința. Ultima mea convorbire cu tata a fost cu doar câteva ore înainte să moară. Îmi amintesc perfect. L-am sunat pe telefonul fix să îi spun că nu vom putea ajunge la Bacău a doua zi foarte devreme, pentru că eram reținuți la muncă și urma să plecăm abia spre seară. Mi-a spus că terminase cu văruitul casei, cu vopsitul exteriorului și că avea ceva important să-mi spună, dar să nu îi spun mamei că știu. Mi-a zis: „Am pus parchet în toată casa. Mama’ta a luat și papuci de casă, să purtați, să nu zgâriați parchetul. Dar eu nu mă supăr, tata, dacă îmi faci un nepot și îl zgârie. Poate să și bată cui lângă cui! Scot parchetul, pun altul nou și iar îl las să bată cuie.” I-am spus că va veni și ziua în care îi voi da vestea că va fi bunic, dar până atunci va trebui să se mulțumească doar cu mine. „Da, măi, Monico, dar ai și tu o vârstă… ar trebui să te gândești serios.” Am râs, i-am spus că o să mă gândesc și am schimbat subiectul. L-am întrebat dacă mama bănuiește ceva. Mama nu știa că noi veneam acasă să o sărbătorim – voiam să îi facem o surpriză pentru aniversarea de 50 de ani. Era joi, 10 august 2006, puțin după ora 22:00. Mi-a spus cât de mult așteaptă să venim, cât de mare petrecere o să facem în weekendul acela, că nu a văzut niciodată curtea noastră atât de plină de viață. I-am spus că îl sun când plecăm din București și apoi când ajungem pe la Sascut, ca să poată da drumul la focul de grătar. „Nu o să-i placă lu’ Laurenția, că e Postul Sfintei Marii, dar, deh… nu în fiecare weekend îmi vine fata acasă.” „Bine, tata. Ne vedem mâine. Noapte bună. Te iubesc.” „Noapte bună, Monico. Și eu. Aveți grijă la drum mâine.” Câteva ore mai târziu, la 1:50 AM, am primit telefonul care avea să-mi schimbe viața pentru totdeauna. Pe ecran scria: „Acasă BC”. Nici măcar o secundă nu m-am gândit că ar putea fi o veste rea. Eram convinsă că e mama, ajunsese acasă și voia să știe ce să ne pregătească pentru când ajungem. Când i-am auzit vocea… era calmă. Prea calmă. Calmul acela era, de fapt, masca unui om în stare de șoc. „Am venit acasă și l-am găsit pe tata mort.” Am întrebat aproape urlând: „Poftim?” A repetat aceleași cuvinte, cu aceeași voce, fără să trădeze nicio emoție. Atunci totul s-a prăbușit. Îmi amintesc vag ce a urmat. Știu doar că, în mai puțin de o oră, eram pe drum spre Bacău. Nu mergeam la o petrecere. Mergeam să-mi înmormântez tatăl. Acea petrecere în curtea noastră, „cum nu mai fusese niciodată”, s-a transformat în cel mai dureros rămas-bun. Tata a fost răpit de un infarct. Mai avusese unul înainte și trebuia să facă o coronarografie, dar refuza categoric: „Lasă, tata, că o să fiu bine. Nu mă mai pisa la cap. Nu merg nicăieri.” Acesta este unul dintre motivele pentru care m-am înscris în această provocare. Și de fiecare dată când intram în mare, îi spuneam în gând: „Pentru tine, tata.” Și nu… apa nu e rece. Știu că tu mi-ai fi spus că nu înțelegi cum pot face asta, că tu ai îngheța doar uitându-te la mine. Mi-e dor de tine. Iar sărbătorile de iarnă nu mai sunt niciodată la fel fără tine. Pentru tine, tata. Pentru inimile care încă bat. Pentru viețile care pot fi salvate. 🤍 Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #11 Done!🎄🎅🏼🌲

Thursday 25th Dec 🎅🏼 11th Dip Done! 🎅🏼 Today I completed my 11th dip as part of 12 Dips in December for the Irish Heart Foundation, and what a special one it was at the Balbriggan Christmas Swim on Balbriggan Beach It felt absolutely amazing to see so many people out on Christmas Day, braving the cold for a dip or a swim. The atmosphere, the community spirit, and the smiles made it a truly unforgettable experience ❤️ I just want to say Happy Christmas and Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. I wish you all a season filled with health, happiness, peace and healthy hearts! A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has donated, shared, supported, or dipped along with me. Your generosity has helped me reach my fundraising goal, and I’m so grateful for every bit of support 🙏 And of course, if anyone would still like to donate — there’s absolutely no problem going beyond the target! Every extra euro makes a difference, and I truly appreciate everyone getting involved Thank you all so much, and see you for dip number 12! Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #10 Done! 🌊

Wednesday 24th Dec Two digits at last! Today I completed my 10th dip for December challenge in support of the Irish Heart Foundation. I don’t have my usual photo with the number written down, but I have this picture… but honestly, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was so happy to share today’s dip with the amazing ladies of the Balbriggan Swimming Socks! These women show up, dip, support each other, and inspire everyone around them. This photo captures exactly what these dips are really about — community, courage, and connection. Thank you, ladies, for making dip 10 such a special one Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #9 Done! 🌊

Tuesday 23rd Dec So far, with today, I completed my 9th dip out of 12 for the Irish Heart Foundation as part of the 12 Deeps for December challenge 💪 For the first time ever, I used gloves and boots — and wow, what an amazing difference they made! In the past, I loved the dip and the water, but I always had to get out earlier because my hands and toes were so cold. Today was completely different. I could actually stay in and enjoy it properly — such a huge change and a total game changer! 🙌 Feeling proud, grateful, and really looking forward to the last 3 deeps . Please support me and donate a coffee or a cookie amount to my page! Thank you to everyone for the support! Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #8 Done! 🌊

Sunday 21st Dec Another one done! 8 ✔️ 4 left❤️ Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #7 Done! 🌊

Friday 19th Dec What an amazing day for a dip!! Enjoyed every minute of it! Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #6 Done!

Thursday 18th Dec 🌊 12 Sea Dips Challenge – Update 🌊 I’m halfway there! ✅ 6 sea dips completed ⏳ 6 more to go I’m hoping to do my final dip on Christmas Day, although I can’t promise it as time is quite limited during this period. I chose to take on this challenge in support of the Irish Heart Foundation for a very personal reason. I lost my father to a heart attack, and my uncle has also had heart problems. Sadly, many members of my family suffer from heart-related conditions. This challange it means a lot to me to know that I’m doing something to support the fight against heart disease and to help other families going through similar experiences. Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #5 Done!

Wednesday 17th Dec Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #4 Done!

Monday 15th Dec Lunch break: perfect for my 4th dip! Today my friend Ann joined me at the beach and I hope in the future she will join me in the water as well:) 8 left😍 Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #3 Done!

Sunday 14th Dec I braved the sea at Balbriggan Beach today for my 3rd dip of December in support of the Irish Heart Foundation 💙 I’ll be honest — I’m a little behind after a busy and challenging week, but I’m getting back on track. I’m planning to make up for it with five dips in a row next week, so plenty of cold water and determination ahead! ❄️💪 The water was absolutely amazing today, and I felt so good afterwards — there’s nothing like a sea dip to clear the head and lift the heart. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. Your support really means the world to me and keeps me going into that cold water! 💙 If you’d like to support or share, I’d be so grateful. Every donation helps the incredible work of the Irish Heart Foundation ❤️ Share

12 Dips in December – Dip #2 Done!

Saturday 6th Dec Share

Dip 2-Tinnaberna Beach,

Saturday 6th Dec Over visiting  friends for the weekend, I take advantage of being close to the beach and I had a dip with my friend Collette!  Share

Dip 1: When the sea becomes courage -

Tuesday 2nd Dec

If someone had told me five years ago that I would be swimming in the sea in Ireland during winter, I would have probably laughed until I cried and asked if they were okay or needed medication. Me? Ocean swimming in December? No way. I only imagined cold, biting waves, and a firm "no" coming from every fiber of my body. In my early years here, when I saw those who ventured into the water during the colder months, I looked at them with a combination of amazement and bewilderment. They seemed to be from another world. "What’s going through their minds?" I’d wonder. "Don’t they feel the cold? Are they crazy?" And, secretly, I also wondered why they had so much light in their eyes when they came out of the water. I didn’t understand. I didn’t know. I couldn’t dare to imagine that one day I would feel that too. But great things never arrive with a fanfare. They come slowly, on tiptoe, like small changes that you don't even notice at first. That’s how my first entry into the cold water came about: a mixture of curiosity, fear, and an inner impulse that’s hard to explain, as if the sea was calling my name. From that moment, a new world opened up for me. Today, I am in my second year of not stopping at the threshold of the seasons. I don’t let temperature, wind, the calendar, or even the fear of sometimes going in alone hold me back. A kind of silent pact has been created between me and the ocean—a pact of truth. In the cold water, you can’t lie. You can’t run away from yourself. You can’t hide what you feel. Everything falls away, like a wave that recedes, and only you remain: you, with your breath, your body, and a strength you didn’t even know you had. There, in the cold that bites your skin, I discovered a different kind of courage—stable and deep. It’s a courage that doesn’t scream, but whispers: “You can. Continue. Have faith.” It wasn’t the swimming itself that changed my life, but the way I viewed myself after each time I entered the water. It’s amazing how a few minutes in the ocean can turn your world upside down. They wake you up, cleanse you, and rearrange your thoughts. It’s as if the sea says to you every time: "Leave everything that weighs you down here. Take with you only what makes you light." In the cold water, I learned that fear doesn’t disappear, but it becomes manageable. I learned that I can trust myself even when I’m shaking. Stillness is not a place; it’s a state you can create amid chaos. Sometimes, you just have to step forward, even when every cell in you says “no.” Most importantly, I learned that I am alive. Maybe that’s why I enter the ocean in winter—not to test myself, not to appear brave, but to remind myself who I am when I strip away all the world’s noise. The sea has an incredible way of bringing you back to yourself. It takes everything from you and returns only the essential. That feeling resonates in every fiber of my being. Perhaps that’s the real magic—not the cold water, not the courage, not the adrenaline, but the way, for a few moments, you return to your primary sincerity and unvarnished essence. The sea reminds you that you are composed of the same force as the waves—that you can crash, you can fall, and you can rise again. When I emerge from the ocean in mid-winter, with my skin burning and my heart beating like an old drum, I feel as if I carry a piece of infinity inside me. Each wave feels like it has rewritten me. The whole world goes silent for a second, and only the truth remains. And the truth is this: it wasn’t the water that changed me, but the courage to step into it. To say “yes” where I had spent years saying “no.” To take my own destiny by the hand, even while trembling, and to move forward. In the cold that both cuts and heals, I learned the most important lesson: When you enter the sea in winter, you are not just trying to survive the cold. You are trying to find yourself. And each time, you do. The only thing you need is the willingness to seek it.

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