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