Eight things I learned about myself in the pool

1. Every day that starts with swimming is a better day. 

It’s good for both my mental and physical health. I sleep better and I’m just in a better mood all day long.

2. I actually prefer to swim at the end of the afternoon. 

Like at 4:00 pm when I wasn't really getting anything done anyway, and then I can go home and make dinner. I just learned this since I left my job in August. I can go at 7:00 am if I have to. But I prefer to do desk work in the morning and physical work in the afternoon. 

3. I am externally motivated. 

I clean my house because other people are coming. But I can set deadlines that make me identify an external goal for an entirely internal process. Like I’m going to swim for 30 minutes. Or 1,000 meters. Or let’s see how fast I can finish a 400 IM. 

4. I am competitive. 

That old man in the lane next to me? I think I can beat him. The young woman still wearing her college swim cap who's just barely warming up but still passed me twice? How close can I keep up with her? What if she’s just kicking this lap? Doesn’t matter that they don't know we're racing. It makes me swim faster/harder. 

5. I am realistic.

College swimmers can go four lengths of the pool in the time it takes me to do one. 10 year olds can go two in the time it takes me to do one. I am never going to be a fast swimmer, and I don’t care. Very much. But I hope to still be swimming in my 90s. That is a goal I can work towards.

 6. I am an athlete.

No one walking down the street sees me and says to themself, she must work out. But all of us here in the pool are swimmers. Moving our bodies. I never used to think of myself as an athlete. But when I think back, I have played a lot of sports. Not terribly well, but I am basically coordinated and flexible and I like to play games. That counts. 

7. I am not ashamed. 

I have been in lots of public pools. In the locker rooms, there are bodies of all sizes, shapes, colors. And we are all athletes. I think it's good for girls to see that this is how it is in real life. Not parading around naked but just getting on with changing. It is a small counter to the unrealistic images in magazines and movies.

8. Swimming is one of my favorite spiritual practices.

Whether it is back and forth in an indoor pool or floating in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, I love swimming. It is (literally) fully immersive. Our connection with water is holy. And it can either be a meditative time and space to consider a decision or the light falling on water or a chance to not think, except about my stroke, and form, and kick, and let go of my responsibility for anything else, just for a few laps. 

Every day that includes swimming is a better day.