Its January 2019, Winter in Ireland, and yes, I am sea swimming in a swim suit. The journey of grief and loss has its place, and my journey is no more complicated, no sadder, no more tragic than another’s story, the only difference is, I write about it, and the reason I do, is because I hope my writings can inspire, help or motivate others to know there is life and hope after loss.
Why did I start swimming? My birthday is January 1st. Instead of a big party, a lunch out with friends, wine and the works, I sat for a while and thought, ok Alannah you are turning 43, what is it that you love?
Easy answer for me…I love nature, I love the outdoors, I love breath in the body, I love early mornings, I love a challenge, I love my friends, I love my little family and I love simplicity…. so for me it was simple…A New Years Day Sunrise Swim!
I invited my friends, their kids & dogs, whoever! And those who came, came, it was perfect, It was cold but dry, dark turning light, exhilarating. Everyone arrived sleepy, solemn, shivery and unimpressed, a lot of huffs and puffs….we sat and faced the sea & the sunrise and practised our breathing, calmed the body and mind, silence befell, all you could hear was breath.
Then it was into the water, the cold Irish Sea, for a plunge, a dip, a swim, a whatever….This powerful natural resource we have at our finger tips gives us healing beyond any other. It offers increased energy, better sleep, heightened focus, improved circulation, increased willpower, reduced stress levels, greater tolerance, faster injury recovery, enhanced creativity, stronger immune system, control over mental chatter, inner strength and calmness. All from a natural resource available to all of us, all of my learning about the breath and the healing from the cold water have come from Wim Hof an extraordinary man known as the Ice Man, a Dutch extreme athlete noted for his ability to withstand cold and extreme temperatures, known as the Wim Hof Method of breathing techniques.
What I saw on the faces of my friends as they ran out, a look of pure delight shouting “I did it!” “Wow” “that was amazing…..etc” And that it is….we brought hot flasks of tea, we dressed and we chatted as the sun rose behind our backs, the dogs and kids ran around. It was a coming together, a belonging, a collectiveness of people brought together out doing something that made them feel empowered, alive and energised. I have since tried to swim most days, the days I can’t, I accept life gets in the way, the days I can, then I do. I am an ordinary person, who has been through hard times, I don’t claim to say anything is easy, I do however know the benefits of a healthy body, I do know what its like to feel so much grief in my body, that I can barely move, I know how long it took me to move through my grief and I know at times it felt too hard.
But I also know I am lucky to be alive, to have my breath, my little family, I am able to move my body with less pain and I have choices on this earth, choices to live life to the full and not to live my life in the past.
Thank you,
Alannah
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