Swimming makes me feel playful and free. There are no rules in the water. For me, it’s about connecting with that younger part of myself who loves to play and sometimes even splash around. My happiest memories with my family are in water. Throughout my childhood I was always taking my clothes off to leap into the nearest body of water! We went on family walking holidays in the Lake District, and I loved jumping off the jetties with my siblings. My parents always encouraged us to just dive in. My youngest brother died a few years ago so those memories feel very finite now. Water will always be my special place with him.
Being immersed in water provides perspective. Nature is dealing with loss, rebirth, power, flow and regrowth all the time. Sometimes we need to be reminded that there will be calm seas after the storm.
In 2022, I spent a year swimming in Britain’s tidal pools. Tidal pools are a safe place to swim in turbulent waters: they are natural pools with a man-made element like metal steps or a cement boundary. The sea can be full of dangers, like rip tides and strong currents, but boundaried tidal pools protect you from all that. Looking back, I was drawn to them because they became a metaphor of sorts. I needed to dip my toes into a grief that felt overwhelming and unbounded. They became a symbol for me.
Swimming in cold water teaches your body how to control your own stress response. It stimulates the nerves that help you to relax after fight or flight mode is activated. After experiencing grief, this was incredibly helpful for me.
Joining a local swimming group also gave me community and those friendships helped me to develop resilience and find joy throughout life’s highs and lows. It’s social prescription and it works. If you’re feeling apprehensive, find a local swimming group. And there’s nothing like that fuzzy feeling of warming up afterwards with a hot water bottle, hot drink and a good pair of socks.
