Swim lane reservations
This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for swim lane reservations.
In eleven minutes I am scheduled to get into the pool, and for a full half hour, I have a swim lane all to myself.
I am not really a swimmer, although I guess I am on my way to becoming one. And when I first started exploring the idea, I was intimidated by the idea of swim lane reservations. I didn’t really know what I was doing, so it felt intense to reserve thirty minutes—or more specifically, to take thirty minutes away from other people.
Because that is how it initially felt, like I was taking something from someone else by reserving a swim lane for myself. Swim lane reservations at my community center are competitive: You have to set a timer days in advance, because slots fill within minutes of being released.
But now when I reserve a swim lane I know I am not taking anything from anyone, at least no more than they are taking something from me if they make a reservation before I am able to.
Swim lane reservations are a gift to myself. And even though the process is still a bit intimidating, I am grateful for it because I can’t honestly say I would otherwise commit to a new and unfamiliar exercise. It would be very easy to tell myself, “Oh, I’ll go later today. Or tomorrow.” Or never. But if I have managed to snag a reservation, you can be sure I am planning to show up.
It’s only been a few weeks since I started prioritizing swimming as part of my self-care routine, so I don’t know yet whether this will be a long-term addition to my lifestyle. But for now, I am really liking it.
When I am swimming, there is nothing to do but focus on my body and breathe. And even though thoughts will inevitably cloud my brain, I am compelled to regularly clear my mind, because otherwise I lose track of my body and breath and end up with a mouth full of water. Basically, swimming is a great form of meditation. And I am grateful for it.
Love > fear,
Christina