Someone recently told me I was a very spiritual person. I never considered myself spiritual and I actually thought, “what is he talking about, I’m not overly touchy feely, I don’t sit on the beach and chant, I don’t meditate…I don’t even do yoga!” As we continued to talk, over a very yummy omelette if I may add, I thought he might actually be on to something. I have really been thinking about why I am doing this swim and what it would mean to me to finish and move on to other swims around the world. The feeling is something that I cannot explain but this feeling is driving me to do this swim. I have fears, oh yes I have fears, but my fears are not enough to stop me from trying to conquer Catalina.
I have been trying to record every piece of this journey because the journey is such a big part of the swim. The people that have reached out to help me, the connections I have made with those that I did not even know but that have heard my story and want to be a part of it. I am trying to remember the inspirational words, words of wisdom, that people have shared with me that will help me get through those tough hours in the dark. I have reflected and continue to reflect on what it means to be able to do what I am doing–where I am doing it. Not many can and I feel blessed that mother nature has been all in all kind to me on my swims –yes I do count a hurricane and swells as kind. I think about the beauty of swimming with the sea life that some have only seen in books or at an aquarium. And I think about the times when I have been able to just stop swimming, look around to see nothing but sea and realize just how small, how very very small we are in such a very big and complicated world. When I am out in the ocean, time stops. It could be 1920 or 2014…and it is the scariest and most beautiful place you would ever want to be.
So…I was speaking to someone else recently and he must have had an encounter with someone self-important because he said to me, “everyone thinks that their life is the most interesting one.” And I said, well I know mine’s not. The most interesting things about me and my story are the people on my journey, the people who come in my life and add to the story. We talked about my swim and how I wanted to remember every bit of the road leading up to the point where I am at Catalina ready to jump in so I can appreciate and really try to live in the moment and understand it. And he looked at me and said, “that, my dear, is enlightenment.”
