| I recently had an epiphany. Many may consider it a | | | | At first I was tentative, I didn't know how I would |
| minor feat, yet for me it feels like a big | | | | do. After all, it had been 30 years or more since I did |
| accomplishment. I did something I didn't think I could | | | | any serious swimming and even then I was never |
| do and I changed my own image of myself. I also | | | | comfortable. So I started with a kickboard and I |
| learned something that can be applied to most | | | | went across the pool a few times. But that got real |
| everything in life. | | | | boring, real fast. So I tried to swim and breathe and |
| I have never thought of myself as a swimmer. Sure, | | | | swim and breathe. I remembered how, I realized that |
| I took lessons when I was a kid just like everyone | | | | I just needed to practice. The first time I made it all |
| else, but I struggled with it. I did not find it easy. I | | | | the way across without stopping I was elated. But |
| thought everyone else was a better swimmer than | | | | the breathing was the scary part. So I concentrated |
| me and I did not think I could do it. So I didn't swim. | | | | on breathing and as I got better I realized that the |
| For years and years I just didn't even try. | | | | trick with breathing in the water is not the "Inhale" |
| But this summer I was inspired. I wanted to swim. | | | | but rather the "Exhale"-the releasing of all of the air in |
| Not just swim, I wanted to become a good | | | | your lungs to make room to bring in more air. You |
| swimmer. Being a Mommy is definitely inspirational and | | | | have to release the resistance of the last breath in |
| my inspiration to swim came from my two-year-old | | | | order to get the next breath. Soon I was able to |
| daughter. My beautiful little daughter inspired me. I | | | | breathe easily in the pool. Now I can swim lap after |
| took her to a mommy-tot class and she loved it. | | | | lap without any problems. |
| Every time she was in the pool she loved it. She | | | | As I came home and told my husband (my best |
| seems to be natural at it, just the opposite of what I | | | | friend) every single, minute detail of my newfound |
| was. Her lessons have been over for weeks yet still | | | | passion, I excitedly declared, "If I can breathe, I can |
| every single day at 8:00 in the morning, she puts on | | | | do Anything!" Wow, what a concept! And how true it |
| her swimsuit and she is ready to go to the pool. | | | | really is based on everything that I have learned in |
| My family always enjoyed boating and water-skiing, | | | | life! We really are limitless beings, so of course, if we |
| but my lack of skill in swimming never seemed to be | | | | are breathing we are capable of just about anything! |
| a problem, after all I could always grab the life jacket! | | | | So swimming gave me a great metaphor for life..."If |
| But watching my daughter swim and feeling the joy | | | | you can breathe, You can do anything!" One of my |
| she felt, I realized that my family was going to be a | | | | favorite, late, great, mentors W. Clement Stone said, |
| swimming family and as the Mom, I needed to catch | | | | "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and |
| up! | | | | believe, It can achieve." He's right-If you can believe |
| So, I decided I would start to improve my swimming | | | | it (and you are breathing!) you can achieve it. It may |
| skills by swimming laps. I asked the swim instructor | | | | take some work or practice and you may need to |
| when the lap lanes were mostly empty so I didn't | | | | release some resistance but "If you can Breathe, |
| interrupt any of the triathletes or the regulars and I | | | | You can do Anything! |
| just decided to do it. | | | | |