Not stupid, many feel glued to the board not wanting to take an accidental dip. Begin by keeping your paddle in the water. Take tiny heel to toe steps forward then back. if forward - paddle forward, if back, paddle backwards - the paddle provides stability, making you a tripod of sorts. Start with small steps. Stay loose and breathe!
With practice, you'll be able to be more comfortable moving about. In time, begin to walk towards the nose and the tail (paddling while doing so). To do that 180 degree turn, first put one foot behind other in a staggered position or 'surfer's stance', but both feet facing towards the nose. Just one foot back from the center will be enough to raise the nose a bit. Take sweep strokes (big sweeping arc forward or back) to turn the board. Try to do a 360. If comfortable, move both feet back a bit, then once again place one (your most comfortable foot) behind the other facing forward. Take another sweep stroke. Keep moving back til the nose rises out of the water. When the board begins to tilt a bit, get low! Squat - staying low and keep the blade in the water 100% using sweep strokes to turn and also stabilize you. If you remove the blade you'll swim. Work it back in fourth in the water slide it forward and reverse (practice slicing the blade through the water both directions without removing it out). Practice, practice. Be willing to fall in, once you do so you can relax about getting wet again!
the pivot turn is great balance practice and you'll get more waves surfing. once you have it more or less solid on flat water practice it in rough water, in waves, moving current, etc. doing so will benefit the rest of your paddling especially in rough water. try walking to the nose raising the tail out, then do a 360. cheers.
