Swimming Sideways

 

I got caught in an undertow in the 7th Grade. Our school took the 7th-12th graders on a fun outing to one of the most beautiful beaches of my childhood.

My best friend couldn't go, so I ventured out into the water alone. The water was so refreshing. I floated, looked up at the beautiful clouds and daydreamed about everything!

When it came time to swim back to shore, something caught my foot. I now understand why we need swimming buddies. I had never heard of an undertow. It was strong, pulling me out to sea fast. I paddled as hard as I could, flailing sometimes, but wasn't giving up. 

I then noticed something: The surface water was going into shore, and if I could stay on top and swim in, I knew I'd make it. 

But it wasn't so simple as the undertow was about two feet below me, so dipping just slightly into that current whisked me back out to sea.

I yelled for help, but the people behind me and the people on the beach didn't respond. All I wanted was to be on dry land with my friends, having a good time. 

Meanwhile, I rested from time to time by floating and enjoying the Windows 95 day.

The real ordeal lasted about 30 minutes, but it felt longer. Once I got to shore, it took what felt like another 30 minutes to find my group. Being nearsighted didn't help either. I know I was a sight to strangers peeking under umbrellas.

I don't think I was ever so happy as the moment I found my friends! I recall flopping down on the sand, exhausted. I believe I fell asleep for a long time as I looked like a boiled lobster that night. It took me a couple of days to heal and I missed school the following Monday.

But then I was as good as new! I thanked God for literally slowing my mind down enough to run a viable solution passed my panic.

You'd think I'd hate the beach, but it is one of my favorite places. I can't wait to get there, set up the umbrella and wade out into the water!

Maybe you are in a circumstantial undertow. Maybe it's been so long that you wonder if you ever were on dry land. You yell for help. No one comes. You try to describe what's going on. It seems unreal. No response. People do care, but may not understand what's going on. It's okay. 

As Dori in Finding Nemo says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

But yes, you were on dry land once. You basked in the sunshine and felt the wind on your face, and you will again. Get the rest you need. You've gone through something big, but it didn't get you down. 

Now you're ready to tell your story. If you try to tell it in the middle of the panic, it will come out wrong, backwards, upsidedown. But once you've rested, you will realize by God's loving grace you got through it and are stronger, kinder, more patient and a better listener. And now you can help others with the lessons you learned. In fact, you may find some humor in parts of your story given time.

I can still see the people jumping when I looked under the umbrellas. I jumped myself. In fact, I am so glad I happened to pick the right direction when I headed up the beach. Imagine if I had chosen the other direction? They might still be looking for me!

Someone told me later in life what to do if caught in an undertow:

Swim sideways.

It can be a handy life philosophy as well.

Swimming sideways can be whatever it takes to get you out of any life loop; it's healing, it's rescue, it's life-saving. If you try to swim into shore, you will exhaust yourself.

Just swim sideways...not forwards, not backwards, sideways as fast as you can and you'll be away from the current quicker than you can say "something's got my foot and I can't get out"!

But you can get out.

In these unprecedented times, I echo the words being said globally, We'll get through this. I don't say this idealistically, nor disrespectfully, but I truly believe we will.

We will hug again, kiss on the cheeks, high five, chest bump, feel the love, have dreams and build a better tomorrow.

In closing, I thank God for our emergency and medical workers, our leaders, entertainers who keep us laughing, and family and friends who comfort and keep us connected! What are you thankful for?

I-I-Ice B-B-Bath! Wahhhhh!

I recently added a regimen to my workout routine that was painful, but effective.

It's called an ice bath.

You have not lived until you try to sit in water that is 60 degrees F for two minutes. 

Optimum time is three minutes. The following graphic explains it all.

I had it all planned out. I did my usual run on a hot humid Houston morning, cooling down, then would try the ice bath.

I happened to be speaking to my first best friend since childhood on the phone, explaining what I was about to do. She "went with me" to McDonalds where I got ten lbs. of ice for $10, bargain! (In reality, it took two trips. Long story, but she was with me through the whole event.)

"I'm getting in!" I told Gina, "but stay on the phone...Arghhhh! I can't believe I'm doing this! Talk to me!"

I don't know what she said, because everything became other-worldly. The minute each body part hit the water, every vessel and gland constricted, including my tear ducts! I felt like crying but couldn't. I laughed! My body was now a popsicle!

Every 30 seconds felt like five minutes. I barely made the two-minute mark when I hopped out!

"Enough! I'm out of here!"

Then the most amazing thing happened a few minutes afterwards, just as promised. The blood rushed though my body and I began to feel great! In fact, I slept well, got up and had extra energy today.

When relaying the story to my aunt yesterday, she said she had never heard of ice baths until watching the US Open. I learned Novak Djokovic and Marton Fucsovics took an ice bath break. Then refreshed, went at it another two-and-a-half hours.

I recommend the ice bath, but only after doing your research and if it fits in with your personality and regimen. 

I am looking forward to my next one. I read they should be done at least one week apart. That's long enough to forget the pain and live in the gain, much like giving birth, so I hear.

This post is dedicated to all athletes paid and not, big and small, known and unknown doing what you can to care for your temple including challenging it to do the amazing so that you can live a longer, stronger more vibrant life!

Here's to the Polar Bears!

Some thoughts on having peace in the middle of the storm

We have massive thunderstorms in our area today. In fact, the country has been riddled with unusual upheavals of tornado, hail, wind and unstable weather activity.

The weather has been harshest to those in the southwest, particularly parts of northern Texas and Oklahoma.

In our family we are all reacting differently according to our realities.

My sister is first on the list of heroes. She and her husband and children are seeking to help those in their area who have been less fortunate, including a family who lost everything to a recent flood.

Others are staying put as getting out in this weather may pose more of a hazard.

That's me.

With parents who count on us, it's not wise to rescue others at our parent's expense. They need us here and now. Meanwhile I continue to work at my desk and stay tuned to the weather.

I also know I am privileged to have the time to blog at will and don't take it for granted. I am very grateful and seek to use my words wisely and in a way that leaves you better for having visited my writings.

John, on the other hand, is out making it happen. He's "hunting something down and killing it" so we can have dinner tonight, if you know what I mean. The weather is not keeping him in, partly because his work is not where the most severe troubles are. Yet, the troubles are all around. He understands the risk and is tuned in and ready to get to higher ground if needed.

I could be frantic, but chose focus.

I could chose to fixate on horror, but chose humor.

I could be jittery, but chose joy.

I could chose non-sanity, but I chose service.

I could be worried, but chose wisdom.

I could panic, but chose peace.

Check with me at the end of the day to see if I met my goals. My prayer is you'll pray for me as much as I am praying for you in your circumstances. We need each other, and it's so good to know people are wishing you the best where ever you are, and they know you are wishing them the best.

I have work to do today. So do you.

May you find peace within in the middle of the storms that rage without.

Finally, may we all make peace with the past,

preside over our present-day well

and feel deeply optimistic about the future.

For I believe more today God blesses those

who stay connected with their own

and who realistically seek to bless everyone in their path.

This post is dedicated to all the trained workers, reliable rescuers and loving volunteers who serve those affected by the storms of life.