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….

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.

Stretching the Edges—Together Comfort and growth rarely live in the same neighborhood. Yet we keep looking for shortcuts between them—ways to expand without feeling that edge of discomfort that signals real change. Once I started noticing resistance in myself, I saw it everywhere: The colleague who says, “I could never speak in public.” The friend who insists they’re “not creative.” The neighbor who feels they’re “too old to learn something new.” And in the pool, when swimmers—beginners and…

Hey there, June is here—and with it, a new theme inside The Water’s Edge: Marathon Mindset. Marathon Mindset isn’t just a set of thoughts—it’s the story we tell ourselves about what we can handle and who we can become when the goal is far off, the water gets rough, or we’re deep in the middle of the journey. It shows up when we’re tired, afraid, or unsure—and when we choose to keep going anyway. It’s the kind of mindset that helps us trust the process, lean into uncertainty, and stay open to…

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 want to quit. A few years ago, a coach pointed out my tendency to give up when things got hard. It stung to hear her say it—because it’s true. Now I see it everywhere. After dinner, at the sink with three filthy skillets—the kind with cooked-on food—my feet ache, my back aches, and I just want to leave them and sink into the couch. In a moment of disagreement with my husband, I want to walk out of the room. Two tasks left at the end of a long day—I think, Do they really have to be done…