Can you imagine being held by the warm salty waters of the Caribbean Sea, moving easily from one shape to another, sensing the forward progress you make in every moment?
Can you imagine feeling such comfort in your body in the water that there’s no question of, “are we there yet?”
Can you imagine watching the rising sun cast light on the cerulean waters as you journal about your intentions for the day—not what you need to accomplish, but who you want to be in this moment?
Waitukubuli Sea Trail, Dominica, November 2023
As I continue to reflect on my recent swim in far Northern Vermont, I’m reminded that progress isn’t measured in distance alone. Yes, there was a fierce headwind that lasted for hours. Yes, my body temperature was less than ideal after 25 hours in sub 70F water. But I got out because there was nothing to prove. Being fully held by the water and by my crew for all those hours had already given me everything I came for—I didn’t need to risk my safety chasing an arbitrary finish line.
Despite this knowing, I caught myself falling into the trap this week…
On a call with a friend who’d recently completed a big swim of her own, I automatically asked, “What’s next for you?” The moment it left my mouth, I realized what I’d done.
Then a swimmer came for a lesson in my backyard Endless Pool. She’d just gotten comfortable putting her head underwater, happily doing breaststroke, but summoned the courage to ask what might be possible if she learned freestyle—a question many midlife water lovers eventually face.
Giddy and nervous, she crossed the threshold into the warm pool. We began with breath, then brought it into her stroke. With each movement that we visualized, her body softened, her eyes lit up. And then I heard myself say: “What will you do next?”
As though she had to take her swimming somewhere.
Here I was, fresh from my own experience of redefining success, perpetuating the “what’s next” culture.
I quickly restated: “What does that feel like in your body? How will you know that you’re doing it when I’m not here?”
Her energy changed. Instead of leaping ahead, she stayed with the transformation unfolding in real time.
“I’m right here, right now,” she said.
She giggled. She floated. She marveled at how different her body felt when she wasn’t fighting the water.
That’s the cultural trap we all fall into—we’re so conditioned to immediately look ahead that we miss the magic of what’s happening now. We rob ourselves of integration time, of really receiving our accomplishments.
The truth is: transformation begins the moment you choose to step in. Not when you reach some future destination, but when you allow yourself to be held by the present moment—whether that’s by the water, by your community, or by the simple recognition that you are enough exactly as you are.
That’s what SwimBound is really about: giving yourself the gift of time, space, guidance, and community to discover what’s possible for you in the water—and in life. It’s about learning to ask better questions, to stay present with your growth, and to be supported by people who understand that the journey is the destination.
We begin virtually in October, meet monthly online, and in person in those warm Caribbean waters at the end of March 2026. This is where the opening imagery becomes real—where you’ll experience what it’s like to be truly held by the water and by community that celebrates who you’re becoming, not just what you’re achieving.
Spots are quite limited, and I’d love for you to be part of it. Book a Discovery Call to explore if SwimBound is the right next step for you.
Swimming alongside you,
Shannon
P.S. Not sure SwimBound is the right fit? I have availability next month for Repattern: 3-day Mini Swim Camp designed to help you reset and rediscover ease in the water. Book a free Discovery Call to talk through which option might serve you best.
