Feeling Scattered?
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Earlier this week, I stood in what will become the swim studio space here in Talent with the architect, the landlord, and the builder, reviewing plans from the engineer. It was exciting—15 months in the making—and equally terrifying, seeing something I’ve been imagining start to take shape (the plans still have to be approved by OHA before we can pour concrete). It reminded me of the difference between planning for something and being in it. The gap between the idea and the work. The water…
Learn to Listen to the Water I worked with new swimmers this week—and others I’ve been guiding for years—ranging in age from 4 to 64 (give or take). Some were just learning to hear themselves hum underwater for the first time. Others were exploring how to release tension and let the water hold them. Different ages, different goals. But a common thread runs through them all. The thing that unlocks real progress isn’t found with a kickboard or pull buoy. It runs deeper than watching the clock…
I’ve been noticing something lately. In my own head, the pieces of my work feel deeply connected — my own swimming, the coaching I do, the stories I’ve gathered through my podcast, and what I write about each week. But I’ve realized that from the outside, these can look scattered across different places, serving different purposes. So I’m making a small but meaningful shift in where my longer reflections live. Starting this week, I’m publishing on Substack — where my podcast, Stories from the…
When your body says “nope”. I had one of those moments this week where my whole body said nope. I stood in front of the shower—my hand hovering over the faucet, knowing I should turn it to cold. I know the benefits: improved circulation, boosted mood, sharpened alertness, enhanced recovery, and built-up resilience. I’ve done it before. And yet… I didn’t want to. I started wondering: what’s actually happening in those moments when we resist something we know is good for us? Maybe you’ve felt…
The Power of Awareness This week, one of my swimmers said something that got me thinking:“I used to like swimming. Now I love it.” It had all the makings of a testimonial, but what moved me was the subtle shift in language — because words matter. We do this in SwimMastery all the time. I’m sorry, you don’t have a “hand,” because the moment you think hand, your attention goes there and you disconnect from your engine. You send your books away from your feet — not your head — because thinking…
LESSONS FROM THE WATER READ PREVIOUS ARTICLES WEBSITE SCHEDULE SUBSTACK Last week I taught an adult beginner swimming class at Rogue X. One swimmer was 73 years old and had nearly died after falling into the Rogue River eleven months ago. Another thought she was in the wrong class because she already considered herself a strong swimmer. By the end of class, she was glad she stayed. It left me thinking about how the water reveals what each of us is ready to learn. I wrote about it here: Read:…
