I Swim Therefore I Blog Pt 2
Posted on January 24, 2008
Filed under Uncategorized and tagged blogging, swimming
In my last post I wrote how I’ve started swimming and got to 26 laps in my (just over) half hour swim! I was really enjoying just chilling out doing my laps, and wondering whether I was swimming properly or looking like an absolute idiot. I prefer to think I was looking pretty good but with a few areas for improvement. Then, two lanes away, Miss Pink Cap got in. Well, there she was in all her speedo-ed glory. Cap, goggles, those really sporty looking bathers that cross over at the back. Then she started swimming. Oh, the power, the ease, the gliding! AND she even did that little turn thing at the end of each lap so she didn’t have to stop. The fabulousness! So, I watched. I could have felt totally intimidated and given up my meager efforts on the spot. I could have let it make me feel like an absolute hippopotamus with 7 legs. But I didn’t, and it didn’t even occur to me to feel that way. Instead, I watched and I learned.
I learned that you are supposed to be making splashes with you your feet which means you need to be as flat as you can on the surface when you’re swimming. Currently I am not doing too badly at that, but my legs are on a bit too much of an angle so there are not little splashes happening with my feet. I learned that you can actually glide a fair way and I learned that she stops after a few laps for a breather too!
As I watched Miss Pink Cap I started thinking about how, just before I went swimming, I was feeling totally overwhelmed by all the things I have to get done over the next couple of weeks, and was questioning this that and the other. I was even wondering whether I should bother to keep blogging because I didn’t feel like I was contributing much at all. Just sitting there watching someone who swan so easily (yes, ok, I want to be here one day!) made me refocus and tell myself a few truths. Everyone has to do this now and again I’m sure. Anyway, my truths were:
- I didn’t feel overwhelmed by this swimmer who was obviously so much better than I was. I knew straight away that she had had training and had been swimming for ages.
- I’ve only been blogging for a little while. I’m reading lots of blogs by people who have been doing it for ages and even train other people how to do it too! Rather than feeling like I should be doing exactly what they’re doing, I should just read and learn.
- I choose to swim and I choose to challenge myself to be a better swimmer and to increase the amount of laps I do in a half hour session. I’ll never get there if I don’t get in the water and swim.
- I have chosen to take on the things I have on my plate right now, and I want to do them (except one which is now too late to back out of, but that’s ok, financial renumeration will come my way for it), so rather than grumbling and procrastinating, figure out a schedule and get on with it.
- I have to take regular little rest stops after a 4 or so laps. That’s ok. I’m a beginner and I’ll get there. I can already see an improvement in how long I have to rest for over the past week.
- I’m still in the process of thinking about exactly what I want from my blogging (see below for links to posts on this) and I do need to take a few breaks, step back, reflect, think again, think more, draft, think, reflect read more, reflect etc to keep in touch with what my goals are (when I figure the exact ones out).
So, I’ve touched base with reality again. I’m managing that full plate. I’ll be swimming more laps tomorrow.
To read more on my online identity crisis and really thinking about blogging, check out: Online Identity Crisis and Being Yourself for the Betterment of Your Blog.
Image is ‘Swimmer’ by mag3737 from FlickrCC
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Jess -
In my experience with swimming AND blogging (short as that may be) it’s extremely easy to get discouraged by the more experienced people in this world. Just remember why you’re doing what you do - in both areas - and stay true to yourself. I love reading your thoughts
Jess, I love this post! As someone who has a hard time swimming, I agree with and can relate to your insights. Anytime I start comparing myself with other athletes, I start to feel bad about my own progress. However, if I try to learn from the athletes that are better than me, I remember the journey I’m on and get inspired. All the same holds true for blogging!
Jess,
Enjoyed this one as I feel like the swimmer looking back at the bloggers and wondering if I’ll ever organise myself to write more regularly and effectively. As Tara wrote above, watching the more experienced and able bloggers / athletes / etc is what inspires us to keep on the move. Keep it up!