Feeling Scattered?
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What is “hard”? The current subtly pushed us past each of the 12 bridges between Sellwood and St. John down 17km of the Willamette River, while the wind made the kayakers WORK. The contrast created lumpy water—each breath needing to be quick and precisely timed to get air instead of water. Sometimes you’d get water, spit it out, and try again. Dynamic. That’s the word that came to mind, watching my kayaker dig with each stroke—getting pushed back at every 30-minute feed, then fighting to get…
LESSONS FROM THE WATER READ PREVIOUS ARTICLES WEBSITE SCHEDULE SUBSTACK Hi there, I’ve been quiet for a few weeks — heads down finishing the prep for something I’ve been building toward for months. Last week, I watched six people swim across a bay they’d never seen before. Not once, not twice, but day after day for the entire week. Complete strangers to each other, they’d been training with me since October — scattered across the country, doing laps in their local pools all winter, building…
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…
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 Hi there, Just this morning someone told me: “But I’m not a swimmer.” I hear that a lot — and it’s exactly why I created Move with the Water. Swimming has a bit of an image problem. For many of us, learning to swim meant learning to survive — get to the edge, hang on for dear life. It was a safety skill, not a joyful one. And even for those who came out the other side loving the water, it’s worth asking: does it still…
Sink or Swim: The Art of Asking for Help I spent months putting off requesting a meeting with our local small business development center. Once I finally swallowed my pride and asked for help, I was immediately met with support and guidance. Is it just me, or does everyone have trouble asking for help? My history of avoidance runs deep. In high school, I dodged guidance counselors preparing for college. Even now, walking into a building to ask for help feels daunting. Picking up the phone…
