Swim, Forrest, Swim!
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Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited
Behind my smiling face, pre-triathlon, I am so afraid!
Header photo – I’m in the red cap – the color for swimmers that are ‘barely swimmers’.
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Often someone else’s belief that you can do something is stronger than your belief that you can’t!
When the memory of being ‘picked last’ infiltrates your mind decades and decades after it last happened, signing up for any sporting event is a challenge, let alone a triathlon when you can barely swim.
Clearly, I had a reason to as I ended up having a ‘panic attack’ in the water about 1 minute into the event. The mosh pit-like environment freaked me out while trying my newly acquired skill of head-in front crawl. (Learning to swim article here, that was a story)
I was treading water amidst the flailing crowd in the lake and the words ‘I’m panicking, I’m panicking’ were on replay in my head.
I don’t know how she saw me while she was swimming with all those other people around but she noticed the panic on my face and she knew I needed help, her help. She recognized the look on my face because she was the one who taught me how to swim just a few months prior. J’lene had seen this look on my face before.
She had talked me ‘off the ledge’ before. She was quite far away but I heard her SCREAM my name, “STEPH!”
I was shocked out of my panicked state as I searched for, and found, her familiar voice.
We made eye contact and she screamed, “YOU’RE OK! YOU GOT THIS! YOU CAN DO IT! As she swam away, I gathered myself together.
I got this, I got this.
I plunged my face into the water and swam for 27 minutes and 55 seconds – coming in 2 minutes before the cutoff time.
I will never forget what my swim angel did for me.
Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you, more than you believe in you.
Even when you are a ‘motivational’ speaker.
Now…your life, your version, your plan…
Who has shown this type of belief in you?
Who talks you of the edge (or is it the ledge)?
Who have you been this person for?
Who can you be that person for? Who will you let be that person for you?
Cheering for you, as always, Steph
PS – Do you know what they call the person who comes in last in a triathlon? A triathlete!
Just for fun…I found Peptok – because even a motivational speaker needs a boost sometimes – even if/ especially if it’s from elementary school kids!
Call 707-8PEPTOC and then press number:1 if you’re frustrated2 for life advice3 pep-talks by kindergarteners4 children laughing with delight5 pep talks in Spanish6 for how awesome you look7 bonus advice0 to donate
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Watch this video and try this with me, it will take less than 1 minute!
