By Sandra Dee Owens
Have you ever really wanted to do something but were afraid to try it?
Climbing out of the mid-October water, I excitedly hopped up and down at the effectiveness of my winter “swimsuit” against the plummeting air and water temperatures.
The previous morning, before dawn, I stepped carefully down the rocks to the lake. Teaching myself the freestyle swim technique since August, I stayed in the water for 30 minutes, navigating the shoreline by starlight, watching the sky lighten with each turn of my head. Magical!
But this morning I stayed in the water for only 15 minutes, as the air and water temperatures had dropped significantly overnight in their steady slide toward winter.
Saddened by this turn of events, I stood on the shore thinking, “Well, I guess it’s time for me to retreat to the local swimming pool for the winter, to swim – indoors . . . in lanes . . . in bleachy water.”
Though I had anticipated this indoor swim plan all summer, it was incredibly un-fun sounding, and my soul drooped at the thought of it.
Pulling on my robe, I headed home, unable to shake the desire to continue wild swimming throughout the winter. Once home, I dug through my closet, looking for something to save me from my un-fun, indoor swim plan.
Have you ever not wanted to do something . . . really badly?
Pulling on a pair of snowflake-patterned leggings from my ski bag and a short-sleeved surf shirt from another, I felt the woohoo! of adventure as excitement and some fear coursed through me.
Well acquainted with Fear’s influence as one of the most powerful gremlins (as I call them) that can keep me from doing what I really want to do, I imagined flipping a switch from the boring-but-sensible indoor swim plan to a woohoo! outdoor swim plan.
And suddenly, the Fear gremlin diminished just a little, and my Wild Voice (what I call my inner advisor), strengthened . . . a lot.
I barely slept that night for excitement, and early the next morning, dressed in my new “swimsuit,” I swam – for 30 minutes again.
“Woohoo!” I shouted as I climbed out of the lake, vowing to swim in it until it – or hell – froze over.
Which, as it turned out, was Dec. 24 – near midnight.
Have you ever used the things you have to create the things you need?
Dropping air and water temperatures meant I needed new micro strategies to remain safely in the winter water. A pair of rubber-based stockings became effective arm sleeves once the feet and torso were cut off. A mini pad adhered to my forehead (under my swim cap), helped to ease brain freeze. A friend’s thin wetsuit assisted with longer swims.
On the morning of Dec. 24, my accomplished swimming friend Karyn Stannard joined me to carefully fist punch the half-inch-thick ice forming along the lake’s shore. Gently pushing the shards aside, we made a narrow channel to the open water beyond, swimming parallel to the ice shelf – for 12 minutes.
Late that night, the lake iced in completely.
Do you know what your best-health motivators are?
At some point during that first winter of Snow Swimming (named for the snowflakes on my leggings and because I adore the word “snow”), I realized that adventure is my biggest motivator. The challenges Snow Swimming presented to me required continual problem-solving, micro strategies and testing to keep doing it safely.
I discovered that I love tests! As long as they are connected to adventure.
Since the health benefits of Snow Swimming were huge for me (it felt like a mind, body and spirit reboot on a cellular level), I knew I would be looking for a new set of challenges in the second year of this awesome-possum sport.
For more information on Sandra Dee Owens visit sandradeeowens.com.
Read all the columns in the “The Funologist” series by Sandra Dee Owens.