Part 1

Flipping the switch from boring—to woohoo!!!

For Debra

Have you ever REALLY wanted to do something but were afraid to try it?

Climbing out of the mid-October water, I excitedly hopped up and down at the effectiveness of my winter ‘swimsuit’ against the plummeting air and water temperatures. 

The previous morning, before dawn, I stepped carefully down the rocks, to the lake. Teaching myself the freestyle technique since August, I stayed in the water for 30 minutes, navigating the shoreline by starlight, watching the sky lighten with each turn of my head. Magical!

But this morning, I stayed in the water for only 15 minutes, as the air and water temperatures had dropped significantly overnight in their steady slide toward winter.

Saddened by this turn of events, I stood on the shore thinking, “well, I guess it’s time for me to retreat to the local swimming pool for the winter, to swim—indoors—in lanes—in bleachy water.

Though I had anticipated this indoor swim plan all summer, it was incredibly un-fun sounding, and my soul drooped at the thought of it.

Pulling on my robe, I headed home, unable to shake the desire to continue wild swimming throughout the winter. Once home, I dug through my closet, looking for SOMETHING to save me from my un-fun, indoor swim plan. 

Have you ever NOT wanted to do something. . . really badly?

Pulling on a pair of snowflake-patterned leggings from my ski bag, and a short-sleeved surf shirt from another, I felt the woohoo!!! of adventure-excitement and some fear, course through me. 

Well acquainted with ‘Fear,’s influence as one of the most powerful, ‘gremlins’ (as I call them), that can keep me from doing what I really want to do, I imagined ‘flipping a switch’, from the boring-but-sensible indoor swim plan—to a woohoo!!! outdoor swim plan.

And suddenly, the Fear ‘gremlin’ diminished a little— as my ‘Wild Voice’ (what I call my inner advisor), strengthened—a lot.

Barely able to sleep that night for excitement, I dressed early the next morning in my new ‘swimsuit’ and reaching the lake just before dawn—swam for 30 minutes.

Woohoo!!!, I shouted, climbing out of the lake, vowing to swim in it until it—or hell—froze over.

Which, as it turned out, was December, 24th—near midnight. 

Have you ever used the things you have—to create the things you need?

Dropping air and water temperatures meant I needed new micro strategies to remain safely in the winter water; a pair of rubber-based stockings became effective arm sleeves once the feet and torso were cut off. A mini pad adhered to my forehead (under my swim cap), helped to ease brain freeze. A friend’s, thin wetsuit assisted with longer swims.

The morning of December 24th, my accomplished swimming friend, Karyn Stannard, joined me to carefully fist punch the half-inch thick ice forming along the lake’s shore. Gently pushing the shards aside, we made a narrow channel to the open water beyond, swimming parallel to the ice shelf—for 12 minutes.

Late that night, the lake ‘iced in’ completely.

Do you know what your best-health motivators are?

At some point during that first winter of Snow Swimming (named for the snowflakes on my leggings and because I adore the word ‘snow’), I realized that adventure is my biggest motivator. The challenges Snow Swimming presented to me, required continual problem-solving, micro strategies, and testing, to keep doing it safely.

I discovered that I love tests—as long as they are connected to adventure.

Since the health benefits of Snow Swimming were huge for me (it felt like a mind, body, spirit, ‘reboot’ on a cellular level), I knew I would be looking for a new set of challenges in the second year of this awesome-possum sport.

‘SNOWGA’ - A mindfulness-yoga-calisthenics series that creates warmth from within…all year long.