Hello fellow Joy Seekers,
I hope you have been able to find moments and glimmers of Joy this week. At first glance I felt this week hadn’t been overly joyful and in some parts it’s felt far from it. But then I sat and thought about my week and slowly I realised that there were actually many more moments of joy than I’d initially thought and that, by thinking of those joyful moments I inevitably started to feel much more joyful too. ( I can understand why so many find gratitude journals so helpful, it really does help to shift your mindset).
This week I’ve decided to share a relatively new found joy with you all; Finding Joy in wild swimming.
I am as often feels, late to the “wild swimming” party. It really wasn’t something that ever appeal to me, I’m one of those very slow swimmers who keeps their head firmly out of the water, at all times and absolutely doesn’t enjoy being splashed! I also didn’t enjoy not being able to see what was going on underneath the water, so any dark water, including the sea was always a big no from me. I like to be in control and the water and what was going on beneath the surface was very much beyond my control.
And then one balmy summers evening on the shores of Lake Geneva all that changed. I watched as my husband and daughter joined all of the locals enjoying a sunset dip in the lake and I sat there thinking but I can’t go in, I don’t have my swimming things, but I knew this was a moment I didn’t want to miss as the water turned golden from the setting sun, so I let go. I let go of the fear of what would people think of me swimming in my underwear, (because we hadn’t gone prepared to swim, it was one of those joyfully unexpected moments). And as I entered the water I felt such a burst of joy, looking at the vastness in front of me, it was so utterly beautiful I could have cried. What an introduction to “wild” swimming.
A few days later I found myself swimming in the shadows of majestic Monte Blanc in all of her staggering beauty in Lac Passy another moment that felt completely life affirming.
After that I didn’t partake in any wild swimming for quite a while, the lakes in England felt somewhat less appealing until I went to the Lake District. An early morning hike into the hills where we were rewarded with a lake to cool off in (yes it was that hot in the Lake District!) and the joy of having it all to ourselves. Another incredibly life affirming moment where you feel so utterly thankful to be there and to be alive fully alive and present in the moment.
Since then I’ve started to get into ice baths at home, I find it incredibly challenging mentally but I love the stillness of being totally in the moment. My whirring mind totally at peace whilst I just focus on the moment and of breathing my way through the experience. But oh my the buzz you feel afterwards is intoxicating.
Recently I had a wonderful experience at Fritton Lake, enjoying their sauna over looking the lake before jumping into the lake to cool down, I LOVED it. Then again in Oslo jumping in the fjord with the backdrop of the Oslo opera house another life affirming moment.
In those moments I decided I didn’t want this incredible feel to be only something I could enjoy a couple of times a year on holiday. I needed this in my life on a more permanent basis, because me the non swimmer has now discovered at forty that I love being submerged in cold water for how alive it makes me feel.
Luckily for me I discovered a local lake where I could get my “fix”. And this week I got to do something completely out of my comfort zone, wild swimming in the dark, with only the full moon to guide us. I felt pretty terrified stepping into the inky black lake but once I surrendered to the water and allowed it to envelop me, I felt total peace and a new sense of aliveness. My eyes quickly adjusted and I let go of knowing what was ahead or underneath my feet and became totally immersed in the water and it was INCREDIBLE. (I’m still learning to love the weeds that grab onto your arms and legs as you swim!) Sitting round the fire afterwards with my life long friend by my side was a core memory I’ll never forget.
Maybe water has unintentionally become an important tool in my toolbox to help navigate my grief, a welcomed break for my head and my heart, a moment that makes me feel so incredibly thankful to be alive and to be experiencing it all. I’ve realised I need to live a life where I feel fully alive because for so long I felt as though I was just existing and metaphorically treading water. I need to feel the fear and jump in because the reward far outweighs the fear and at forty I’m no longer living a life ruled by fear, I’m chasing it down and leaping in because to feel fully alive and present is the joyful life I want to experience.
And yes I am about to make my first wild swimming purchase…! A dry robe and do you know what I couldn’t be happier!! (Although I couldn’t quite face spending that much so I’m having alternative brand robe instead! And I won’t be wearing it on the school run - or will I!!) I’m still on the fence about a wet suit, it feels almost like cheating? But as we head into the coldest months ahead perhaps I’ll re think that one? I love the sensation of the water on my skin so I’m worried that a wet suit would take that away?
I have some pretty exciting swimming adventures ahead which I’ll share with you but for now whilst I’m on the subject of the power of water and nature to heal our bodies and minds I listened to an incredible conversation on Holly Tuckers podcast; “ Conversations of Inspiration”
with Nick Hounsfield founder of the Wave and One Blue World and it couldn’t have been more timely, I’d highly recommend a listen. I am yet to get through one of “letters to my younger self” without crying. Nick’s journey and belief is incredible but so too is the way he speaks about the power of water and nature. Its profound.
Until next week,