Why Swim?

 

Why do we swim? It’s often hard to capture the ‘why‘ . What makes us want to head back to the water again and again. Two swimmers were gracious enough to share some amazing words from their swim experiences this summer. Both, very differently, answer their ‘why’:

For Karen Wellings…

There is the water itself which enables freedom, healing and relaxes. Which meditates, invites curiosity and brings childlike joy to the fore. There’s an unexpected raft of emotions to navigate.  And whilst I may have displayed the odd bit of grumpiness, annoyance, fatigue and incomprehension at times the overriding emotion is delight. There’s the thrill of progress made and achieving goals set and of getting further beyond the vestiges of illness (both physical and psychological) and beginning to see myself differently. There’s the beauty, challenge and sheer fun of swimming with others. The beauty of friendships made.

For Alice Gartland …

Seals, cormorants, chilly temps, underwater forests and seaweed wigs – I looked up at one point and it was just me, in the middle of the sea, looking out to the never ending horizon. I have dreamt of a moment like that for a long time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do you swim?