February is for Connection
|
|
Am I trying to prove something? In my last note, I hinted at a swim that’s been tugging at me. It’s not just about finishing something I started—it’s about revisiting what it means to give myself permission. Despite being a lifelong swimmer, adapting to open water hasn’t come easily for me. I remember a time when I just wanted to get out of open water. I was terrified—of what was underneath, of what I couldn’t see, of the unknown. First, it was fear. Then it was performance. For a long time,…
Find Refuge in the Water Last September I turned 50. I thought that I was handling “middle age” just fine – until I had to pull out the reading glasses that I reluctantly purchased – I broke down crying. But that’s just one piece of it. The swim studio project I have been pouring myself into has been dragging out, tangled in unexpected regulatory hurdles and unforeseen expenses. Every step forward seems to come with a new roadblock. And beyond my own struggles, there’s the flailing economy, a…
What experience won’t protect you from Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I should have this all figured out by now”? Maybe you’ve been swimming for years. You’ve mastered the strokes, conquered goals, built confidence through repetition. What could you possibly have in common with someone just learning how to float? This week, a thoughtful mom joined me for a 3 day mini swim camp with her 7-year-old daughter. Sure, mom could swim further and faster—but what struck me was her willingness…
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…
How do you get ready? There’s something powerful about the quiet work that comes before a big swim—the unseen, often uncelebrated process of getting ready. That’s our theme this month inside The Water’s Edge—a community for curious swimmers who believe the water holds lessons about themselves, their limits, and their potential. Investigating those edges requires more than fitness. It asks for presence, patience, and a plan. Preparation isn’t about proving anything—it’s the bridge between…
LESSONS FROM THE WATER READ PREVIOUS ARTICLES WEBSITE SCHEDULE SUBSTACK Hi there, Earlier this week I sat down with a small group of swimmers and asked a question I’ve been sitting with myself: what feels sustainable right now? “I used to wear a watch to track my times and distance in practice — but I realized I had to take it off. Not because the data was wrong, but because I was stuck in comparing today to yesterday.” The watch wasn’t measuring progress anymore. It was measuring…