The New Year has begun....and I was a tad disappointed.....actually allot disappointed. It snowed New Years Eve and when I got up yesterday morning it was still snowing. So what does this mean....it meant I wasn't going to be able to do the Polar Bear swim. I was pissed at the weather and at myself. I really wanted to do it.....but I realized that it would be fool hearted of me to think that I would be able to make it across the rocky shore...now partly covered with snow. I also realized that I wouldn't be able to tread water so again that would be foolish of me. I recognized that.
I started to think about all those wonderful people in this world that have had dreams and were faced with what some would say insurmountable odds....but through those challenges they persevered and made their dream come true. I wanted to be one of those people....not necessarily on the grand scale....just my scale....I feel I let myself down and for that I am pissed. If I had put more thought into it there could have been a way to make the Polar bear swim happen....For example if I had put on a life jacket I wouldn't have had to worry so much about treading water with my arms...my legs would have done well enough...and if I had the helping hand of my hubby or friend to just help me get to the waters edge I could have walked into the water.....there could have been a way....I just didn't think about it enough.
I am a goal orientated person, I have said this before....and for not being able to reach the first goal I had set for myself for the New Year really put a stinger in my mood for the beginning of 2009. It's important to me to make some positive changes happen in my life for this year....and only I can make them happen. I am sure there will many factors and challenges in front of me that will try to tell me it's not achievable or try to convince me I am reaching beyond the stars....but I am tired of letting it just be....I am tired of accepting things just because they appear to hard or insurmountable....not this year....this year I am going to strive to reach the goals, and as I do I will happily strike them off of my list. Some people may now consider these kind of lists as their "Bucket List".
I was reading an article the other day in Reader's Digest and it was about procrastination. When I think of procrastination I think about people myself included who sometimes are fearful of taking the next step....whatever that step might be. I read their list on how to try to over come procrastination....some of the strategies I tried through out my life....the biggest one of course is making the lists.... At the end of each day you would review your list...see what you accomplished...scratch it off....add more things...make adjustments...and get ready for the next day. I love the idea of lists as it gives me something concrete. Something that I can look at and say "hey I did that today" These daily lists don't have to be earth shattering....but they can be small things that lead up to something big that you want to achieve. Yes lists work for me...the most important thing to remember is to reward myself. Yes that is what they say we need to acknowledge our accomplishments in a positive way.
This photo is of the Search and Rescue boat out in Cox Bay on the West Coast of Vancouver Island....this photo to me epitomizes challenges we are faced with in our lives...we have to face the storms...we must challenge ourselves.What ever your dreams, desires, wishes, hopes or goals are for the coming year and the next....I wish you much success in achieving them.
~Each day is a journey. Each day is a process~ Anne Wilson Schaef
10 comments:
Don't beat yourself up Mary Anne. After what you've been through this year I think you're doing marvelously well! I'm sure you'll be jumping through hoops before long and the Polar Bear Swim will wait until next year. x
I'm with Akelamalu don't beat yourself up and for heavens sakes don't take any risks that are or could be silly. We can push ourselves to much and not get the outcome we are looking for. :)
There will be next year and the years after that and I'm sure this will be, a then distant memory.
Happy New Year, can't wait to see what the year brings for you.
Oh don't be sad about the swim, it's ok... lots of other years!!!
(Hugs)
I saw it on TV and I can't believe the turn out for it! HUGE!!
The rocky shore was not completely snow covered which was surprising but geeze, I would not have done it!
COLD COLD COLD!!!! You really shouldn't anyways caused it could still be slippery.
Again, many other years ahead of you to do that swim, to take one year off isn't so bad!
Have a good weekend, my friend!
~Michele~
I can relate to this post in some ways. I tend to be all or nothing and have learned that the problem with that is I may end up with nothing. That's why I am increasingly trying for those baby steps. I'm sorry it didn't work out this year for the polar bear swim but you have been through so much lately and in my book are so strong. Wishing you all the best!
Good luck with your goals! That picture of the Search and Rescue boat on the west side of the island is incredible! Wow! Now THAT is quite a picture! I am imagining what it would be like to be on that boat and, well, it would be both very exciting and very scary at the same time.
Regarding the polar bear swim, I know it would not quite be the same but you could still do it...! I mean, you would not be surrounded by lots of other people but you and another person could go out, jump in that cold water and come out (with lots of warm blankets close by!!).
OR perhaps you could consider doing a quasi polar bear swim when the temp gets just a bit warmer...!
So much of life is not the actual doing but the actual trying. If you don't mind skinning your knees every so often you will be surprised at what you can do!
I have a strong feeling you will do a lot this year - a lot!!
Take care.
We can't control the weather and it been snowing here and snowing.
I've never done the polar bear swim.
On goal bit sometime I do ok until a road block comes up and I just freeze up and put that goal deep in a box and get back to it sometime much to late.
That one thing I'm going to try to work on this year.
There been goals that I stuck in a so called box for ages.
Coffee is on.
I wish you wonderful things in the New Year. (My brother-in-law was from Canada and he used to do that Polar Bear thing. Just the thought of it made my bones cold!)
Mary Anne, what a great post. Yes! The weather here has been just incredibly awful hasn't it??? Don't feel bad about not going into the Polar Bear swim. Gosh, I'm afraid to even step foot on the sidewalk. I have already had a bad fall on the ice.
You know, I am making a list of things I want to do this year, and your post is inspiring me. :-)
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Josie
Little early in the year to start beating yourself up dontcha think...I have a bucket list too but because of some limitation either financial or health wise they didn't happen last year. So what says me..you will do your swim next year. Concentrate on getting healthy and fit and have a fun year with no regrets...ciao
I too love that picture of the search and rescue vessel.
Hey girlfriend, you've already overcome such jaw-dropping obstacles (in my opinion) that this swim pales in comparison.
Why don't you do this: organize a family swim and call it the mini Polar swim to prepare for next year's swim? Maybe buy a kiddie pool and splash about in that?
Baby steps?
Post a Comment