Feeling Scattered?

One Thing at a Time

Yesterday I got out of the pool and lingered in my bubble. If I resist the urge to pick up my phone and see what I missed, I can hold on to the bliss for just a few minutes longer. Then the wave comes… the meeting I’m supposed to be in, the emails I missed, the messages unanswered.

The shift from clarity to chaos is swift and merciless.

In the water, I know what to focus on. While it can be overwhelming, it’s a practice I’ve honed for 3 years now: choose one thing—just one. One cue. One sensation. One feeling. And focus on that—and only that—for 20 seconds. Can you make it 40 seconds? When do you lose focus? What distracts you? Can you refocus?

Focus isn’t just helpful—it’s everything. It’s what transforms effort into improvement, practice into flow.

On land, I forget this lesson.

I chase too many things at once. I get caught in comparison, false urgency, endless noise. That clear sense of progress I feel in the pool—stroke by stroke, lap by lap or mile by mile—vanishes in the scramble of daily life.

But water is a patient teacher.

It’s shown me that progress doesn’t come from multitasking or muscling through. It comes from attention. From connection. From choosing one thing to move forward.

What if we approach our days like a swim?

One stroke at a time.

One breath.

One purposeful direction.

That’s how we move through overwhelm. Not by doing it all. But by noticing what matters—and beginning there.

With you each stroke,

Shannon

P.S. If this resonated with you, forward this email to a friend who might need the reminder.

P.P.S. Last chance! The special pricing on 5 or 10 session swim lesson or coaching packages ends May 31st! If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time to dive in. Use code: WATER (Reply to this email if you have questions about how to use a package to work together virtually)

P.P.P.S. I’ve got some exciting announcements coming soon about upcoming clinics in Medford, OR and Portland, OR. Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss them!