I had to take off my watch
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The author reflects on the crucial space between intention and action, recognizing it as a place for choice and growth. While automatic habits can streamline daily decisions, moments of pause can lead to greater awareness and alignment with deeper goals. Mindful navigation of this space allows for personal growth and effective action.
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 I was out for a bike ride with my family last weekend when some friends came up behind us. How’s your posture, Shannon? Did you set an intention for your bike ride? Are you going to journal about this later? Each of them had attended some form of my coaching. They were reflecting back to me exactly how I try to help swimmers get out of their ego mind — to learn, grow, and find fulfillment in their practice. I laughed….
You know that feeling you get when you… …come out of an unproductive meeting. …finally break away from scrolling social media. …peel yourself off the couch after binge watching a few too many episodes. …get sucked into your phone and can’t even remember why you picked it up. Malaise. Discontent. Annoyed. This is the opposite of flow. Too much of this leads to an unfulfilling hour, day, week, month, year(s)! I’ll be the first to raise my hand. I’m guilty of bringing my phone to the…
The water is fine. Periodically I peer out from under the rock where I hide, I glance at the news and see vitriol. Even the headlines seem generated to divide us. But in my backyard pool and in my adult swimming classes at Rogue X, we’re humming and floating and finding connection from our books to our toes. We’re feeling the inbuilt support of the water by bouncing ourselves like basketballs. Young and old, we’re leaning into trust. While the world pushes us to choose sides, the water asks…
AI Can’t Feel You can ask an algorithm for a training plan for your next 5k, 10k, or even a 20K swim. It will spit one out in seconds. It looks complete: distances by week, technique with recommended drills, threshold sets, open water skills practice, it even recommends practicing fueling and mental strategies. Convenient? Absolutely. But also completely missing the point. AI can write a training plan based on the latest in exercise science, but it can’t help you feel the water. And when…
