As usual, time seems to be flying, it feels like yesterday when I published my August blog. Surprisingly, more than half of September is gone which implies the countdown has started. Nine months out of twelve so far, delighted with myself but very intense, may need to set a new target for 2025: one blog every two months. Needless to say that my brain has been very busy plotting away trying to get ideas, words, sentences make sense. Even though I had all my blogs for 2024 mapped out, the one for September was not working for me, so a last minute change of plans was needed. A couple of days ago, on the way back from the swimming pool, with thanks to my partner; I found the right topic for this blog post: “Dive in”. For a change, it feels like summer today. What a stunning evening here: plenty of sunshine and blue skies. The Indian summer seems to have finally arrived, after such a long wait. No need for the blanket over my knees but my usual cupán tae is here with me to nourish my inspiration. Five days later, unfortunately, the glorious sunny days are over and autumn vibes are back. Hopefully, those warm days will keep us going when the low temperatures arrive later in the week. Enough weather shenanigans for now, let’s dive into the writing!
When people ask me what I miss the most from my country, Catalonia, I always say the quality of light: it is a lot brighter with a golden tone there. However, I also miss diving into water as I used to live very close to the Mediterranean, I was only a ten minutes’ walk away from the sea. Despite being surrounded by water, Ireland’s beaches do not offer the same experience. I have been brave enough to submerge in the Atlantic ocean a couple of times, on a summer day (not a typical Irish one), when the sun was shining and the temperatures were above twenty degrees. That was it. You will definitely not see me joining one of those sea dipping groups. Do not get me wrong, I really admire their bravery but that is not for me. A nice sunny day on the Mediterranean,, the sea breeze embraces you while diving into the salty water: what else can you ask for! But the thing is that even the Mediterranean was too cold for me in winter, hence the swimming pool becoming my best ally to get my head into water. I started swimming as a toddler (probably more paddling than anything else). I could not say that I have swum all my entire life, but on and off the pool has been a feature over the years. They say the ocean carries your troubles away but so does the pool, at least for me.
“That very first moment when you dive in … provides you with a stunning mermaid tail to shine”
That very first moment when you dive in is priceless. It feels like a massive wave of freedom embracing you with warm waves. It feels like time has stopped so minutes become endless precious moments. It feels like you hold the reins of a carriage called life. That very first moment when you dive in is so powerful. It provides you with strength even though your energy levels are low. It provides you with a stunning mermaid tail to shine. It provides you with the stamina to keep going even against the stream. That very first moment when you dive in is so invigorating. It gives you a load of “everything is going to be ok”. It gives you a dose of superpowers to conquer the world. It gives you magic fins to swim and swim. A boost for the body, and soul! The pool carries my troubles away, it frees my mind, it soothes my soul.
I know I am not an Olympic swimmer, not want to be one either, not at my age .. lol. Butterfly style is definitely not my choice at all. I occasionally may go for backstroke or breaststroke, merely when I am tired. I simply prefer freestyle, at my own pace, no rush, no pressure, no impositions, just aiming for resilience at a steady rhythm. I know I used to swim faster but I am happy with the speed I am at, at the moment. After nearly five years away from the swimming pool, the opportunity of going back swimming presented itself and I could not help it but to go for it (or dive in). In a matter of just a couple of months, I have built the strength to be able to swim between 800 and 900 metres three times a week: around two and a half kilometres! I just dive in and my arms and legs synchronise automatically, so I can keep adding lengths to my count. This is all that matters to me once I have dived in: simply focus on completing another round of four lengths (100metres). The thing is that the more I swim the more I want to swim. The pool carries my worries away, it liberates my mind, it pacifies my soul.
Even on those days when I feel extremely tired, when I feel a bit under the weather, when I feel like doing nothing. Even on those days when everything goes wrong, when nothing makes sense, when anything annoys me. Even on those days when my worries are overwhelming, when my troubles are too many, when my gremlins are loud. I know that I need to go and dive in. The pool carries my gremlins away, it unburdens my mind, it comforts my soul.
There is also more to it! On those days when I am full of energy, when I feel great, when I feel super active. On those days when everything goes well, when everything makes sense, when nothing annoys me. On these days when my worries are stardust, when my troubles are non-existent, when my gremlins are asleep. On those days, it is an amazing experience being able to dive in.
Next time, when you feel the weight of your worries, the pressure of work, the stress of life, just dive in! And you never know, you may even dive into another adventure…
Jay Cee Moon ©
Jaycee Moon 