So today I am reminded of how important it is to “be in the moment.” I hear this all the time and I often ponder exactly what it means. And I try, oh so hard, to do just that. To recognize what is going on and to be fully aware of all the moments that make a day.
I recently started to take swimming lessons (see a previous post “I Swim Like a Manatee“) because I have always had great fear in the water. It has been going really well and I have a new found confidence when I enter the water. I have been gliding through the water, with perhaps not perfect strokes, but I get from one end of the pool to the other and it looks and feels pretty good.
The hardest part for me has always been turning my head and breathing. This is the first time that I have been able to accomplish this rhythmical coordination. That is until today. I think I started feeling a little cocky…yes…not confident…cocky.
Push off the pool…arms extended…flutter kick…turn head…breathe OUT…face back in the water….breathe IN!!! Noooooooo!
I inhaled a gallon of water deep into my lungs!! I coughed and hacked and spit up water for 10 minutes. My girlfriend (instructor) looked at me with a “what the heck happened” expression on her face. It only took a moment to realize what I had done…and I was never more sure of what being in the moment really means. It made me wonder how many moments go by in a day that could turn really bad if we are not fully present….?
My girlfriend suggested the backstroke and I knew what she was doing. She thought she wanted me to continue to swim and that it would be easier to do it without my face in the water…no chance to drink the pool. I did two laps of elementary backstroke, and then pushed off…arms extended…breathe OUT…turn head….breath IN. Yes!! At this stage in the game…I had to get back on the horse.
But I will always be in the moment when I swim…now I just have to work on the rest of the day!!
Blessitude
Lorrie
3/23/14
Good for you, Lorrie. Keep on going. I can learn a thing or two from you! 🙂
🙂 Thanks Kim!! Very kind of you to say…we can all learn from each other.
Yes, we can!
Good for you for getting back in! Bless you, Lorrie! 🙂
Hi Susan…THANK YOU!! It was really scary when it happened…and when I realized my lack of “attention” it just made me think. Hope you are well…have a great week! Lorrie
So proud of you! Keep up the great work! You can do it! ♥
🙂 Thank you so…I just love your encouragement!! I keep a vision of me gliding through the water, and I BELIEVE I can do it! But it did scare me…
Blessitude …Lorrie
It may scare you, but your courage allowed you to keep going! So proud of you! xo
Sounds like you are doing very well with the swimming lessons after swallowing all that water. Good for you getting right back at it. I have a fear of being in water since I came close to drowning many years ago. I never did learn to swim on my back or on top of water but could swim under water. After the near-drowning experience though I never got back in water over knee deep. Keep up the good work. Hugs
I can understand why you would not want to go back in deep water. I didn’t really know that I was going to try to learn…it wasn’t a life long desire…it just sort of happened. I think I decided that I want to banish fear in my life and try to only come from love. So far…so good – with the exception of that minor almost drowning thing! Hehe
Thank you so for the encouraging words…and the hugs!! If you ever decided to try to swim again, I KNOW YOU COULD DO IT!!!!
As I read this I felt like I was with you in the water. I too have a fear of water, because I can’t swim!
Good luck with your lessons, as I continue reading I hope to find some updates!
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Ashley! It is the worst feeling to have fear of the water. Opposite of that is, it is a wonderful feeling to walk into the pool with a brand new confidence that exudes strength and beauty. I am doing very well with my swimming…not quite ready for a swim team yet lol, but better everyday! If you have any opportunity to try to learn I would encourage you to. This was a physical manifestation of “facing my fears” but it has facilitated some mental ones as well. So glad we connected 🙂 Lorrie