I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately: Why do I love to swim? Analyzing this has helped keep me in tune with why I’ve started swimming again, or as an old friend put it today, decided to “make a comeback”. (I thought that was pretty cute!)
Here’s why I love to swim:
- I feel good when I swim. There is nothing like the feeling of sliding comfortably through the water.
- Along with that, I get to feel kind of like a kid again. And that is always a good thing.
- I love the quietness of swimming. All I hear is the sound of the water and whatever thoughts I decide to have. It is absolutely peaceful.
- It gives me the opportunity to remember what it’s like to be good at something – even though I’m not that good right now!
- I love the camaraderie of masters swimming.
- I get to unplug. Contrary to popular belief, I do not swim with my laptop and Blackberry attached to me.
- I don’t care what anyone says, but I have always loved swim suit shopping. And they are so darn cute these days!
Am I the only one who sits around and thinks about these things?
I like all your reasons, Caren. Here are a couple I might add: When I swim, my back doesn't hurt and when I swim regularly, I can eat pretty much anything I want!
ReplyDeleteLove it, Lisa! I wish I could say that I can eat anything I want... but I'm about 5,000 meters a day from saying that. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to find exercise that actually makes your pain go away?! Glad you found the thing for you!!
I love that not only is it quiet - it's almost meditative & zenlike. (Which is one reason I don't swim masters... I like longer distance stuff rather than sprinty intervals.)
ReplyDeleteI love the weightlessness and fluidity, almost like zero gravity might be - the only medium where I'm entirely graceful.
I love feeling as strong and enduring as I do in the water, it persists into other areas of my life.
I, too, love the camraderie of the 8:00am fitness swim crowd - great, positive, supportive women, all!
Great subject, thanks!
I don't really love swimming. I love my daughter's swimming but I'm really doing it so that I am fit enough to live long enough to see her in Rio in '16 (just kidding, I've set the expectation for London).
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I really really like how fit I'm getting; I don't pick up muscle very easily and after only two months I'm seeing a difference. And I'm losing weight even though I'm already too skinny so that's interesting.
But I think I have to get better at it to love it.
I know it's been a while, but I have to add one more comment. Know what I DON'T like about swimming? It's really hard on nail polish.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! So true! It wrecks havoc on nails!
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