I spent my 50th birthday swimming around Greek islands with friends. Even though we were the slowest, it built my confidence.

• 07/07/2025, 8:16 PM
• businessinsider.com

Photo by Lauren Elder

We swam around a rugged stretch of coastline and beneath an arch sculpted by centuries of waves. On this unusually calm day, the sea was so clear it was easy to spot red starfish clinging to the rocks and black sea urchins just below the surface, their spikes ready to pierce any careless limb.