Tag Archives: SWIMMING LESSONS

WATER AND LIFE

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Beloved,

Wow, isn’t the weather absolutely fabulous? It feels like we jumped from winter into summer with a long long pause in between. I am consciously intending to enjoy each and every moment as life feels so fleeting. Speaking about life, I am gaining a deeper understanding of life as I take these swimming lessons. In meditation this morning, I was given a deeper aspect of what life is comparing it to learning to swim. Water is life. That has many meanings as our bodies are composed largely of water. I discovered so many metaphors.

My swimming instructor gave me tools that help me navigate in unfamiliar territory. To learn to swim, you need certain equipment to make you more comfortable and at ease in the water. Earplugs are great to keep the water/life out of where it does not belong. We definitely need a meditation practice to keep the noise of life from our ears and mind. Goggles are a plus as you can see the water/life from a whole different perspective and you can see clearly where you are going, thus avoiding the obstacles that may be in your path. I always kept my eyes shut in the water but what a revelation it was to actually open them to see what was surrounding me. Does that sound like I put my head in the sand sometimes so I won’t need to see what is around me? YES! We all do that when we don’t want to face certain things. I am now more open to opening up to my surroundings.

The first lesson we learned was to put our face in the water and breathe out air from our nostrils, we needed to exhale bubbles. It sounds simple but it was very difficult for three of us out of the four students. It is terrifying to cover yourselves with a substance that does not allow you to get the air you need to live. Does life do that to you? Do you allow yourself to be so immersed in life that you don’t take the time to come up for air? Fear will do that to you if you allow it. You do have a choice and you can choose to look at that fear and recognize that you DO have power over it. It took me a year and a half to conquer my unreasonable fear of spiders but I did it. This is why I am taking swimming lessons to get over my fear of not having solid ground below me. I am seeking the freedom to not only be at ease in the water/life but to know with absolute certainty that I am safe in this world. I want to be able to be at ease in the water/life. We learned to do the dead man’s float while exhaling the air in our nose and our face in the water.

The second lesson we learned was to use our hands to push the water from the front of us to the back while moving our feet thus creating the power to move forward. Doesn’t that sound like life where if we do not push the obstacles (water/life) out of our way, we cannot move to where we want to go? It does not have to be hard to push either the water or life; if we relax we can move with the flow with very little effort. It is only when we struggle that it gets harder. At first we did not go very far but eventually we all reached the flags. There are flags above the pool which give us a goal to reach while still being in water/life that is not over our heads. What are your goals?

The third lesson was to gain some confidence while over our heads. The others were able to sink to the bottom of the pool and then use their legs to push themselves up and toward the wall of the pool where they could hang on. I could not get to the bottom of the pool because of my wetsuit so my instructor had to push me down so I could then move upward. What is keeping me from getting to the bottom of what is still an obstacle because of a crutch I am using? I needed help and trusted him enough to know I was safe even if I was being pushed into scary territory. We then learned to move our heads sideways to be able to open our mouths to get a breath of air while still swimming/moving in the water/life. I have to confess that I got a mouthful and noseful of water the first time and had to stop because I was coughing. Does that sound like the first time you attempted to reach your goal and it was not as smooth or productive as you had hoped? I still do not do well with this particular lesson but the instructor told me to be easy on myself and get more comfortable with this by turning over and breathing and then turn back to swimming with my face in the water/life. It sounds like good advice to put into practice with life and my goals. I think I am learning much more than just swimming for which I am grateful. I try to practice 5 times a week and that is helping me be ready to learn whatever the next lesson is. Next week will be lesson 4.

We all need instructors to navigate our way in water/life beginning when we are born. There is no end to becoming more aware of The Great Instructor in whom we can put all our trust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aRfjyoeJ9I&list=RDgRatzXUTEyQ

This article from Spirit Library is another perspective on life. Enjoy!

http://spiritlibrary.com/ann-albers/everything-has-purpose?utm_source=Spirit+Library+Updates&utm_campaign=0d92f467f7-Daily_Update&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ef6a5211f4-0d92f467f7-120804410

Love and Light

Mary Grace

http://www.IAmMaryGrace.com
http://www.TheWoundedChalice.com
http://www.waleson5.com/marygrace.html

OUR BIRTHDAY OF FREEDOM

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Beloved,

Happy 4th of July, the United States’ Birthday of Freedom.

Freedom is what everything is all about. If you do not feel free then you are not free. We humans put ourselves in all of these boxes beginning with what sex you are. Then comes race, culture, status, beliefs, opinions, perspectives, and on and on. Why do we box ourselves in? Is it only fear and if so, what is the fear? All of this fighting and turmoil in the world is about someone being different than who we are. Why cannot we humans just accept that each of us is unique thus we ARE different and that uniqueness is beautiful and interesting? How bored would we be if we were all were the same? We would not be able to tell ourselves apart from anyone else. Just because you are different does not mean you are taking anything away from anyone else and yet, there is fear that the other person might take something away from us just by being different. Why do we all have to be the same to feel safe on this beautiful planet? There is safety in being unique. When we allow ourselves to be unique then we allow and accept that in others.

Let us honor ourselves and this free country we live in. Parents are willing to give up their children that they might have the freedom we Americans have. Why or why do we not value and appreciate it? So many people complain about our government, whether local or national. Even our own congress is so busy fighting against a perceived enemy in the opposite party that it is setting a standard of fear and judgment. Please take a moment to see and appreciate where you are now and the safety that this beautiful country provides. Let’s give our congress the perfect model of cooperation just by accepting ourselves and all others. After all, we are one species on one planet. If the powers to be cannot be an example to us then let us be an example to them.

The Chinese are not only the inventors of the fireworks they are still the masters. The Hunan Province town is where fireworks were invented and the show has never been equaled in the West. Relax and simply enjoy the creation of another human being regardless of where they live.

> http://www.youtube.com/embed/_LpMB1OZ53g?feature=player_detailpage%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3e%3c/iframe%3e&autoplay=1″

My stomach had so many butterflies in it the day of my next swimming lesson. I would be wearing my wetsuit and I was feeling so different from the others who did not need to wear extra gear to stay warm in the lap pool. (Talk about being unique, it takes courage to be unique and a lot of deep breaths) I even put on my wet suit and went in my lake to try it out. I was soooo surprised that I did not feel cold. The woman who does the weekly test to make sure the water is pure told me that it was 77 degrees so that means in the pool which is 80 degrees, I should not be cold. Yet I was still nervous to wear the wetsuit and get in the cooler pool. I finally came to terms with: if this did not keep me warm enough I just would leave the class and perhaps take private lessons in the warm pool although that would not be conquering my fear of being over my head in the water as the warm pool never goes over my head.

The teacher was late and I did not want to get in the pool with the other three students because I was not sure just how long I could stay warm and I wanted to save that time for learning. I finally jumped in the pool with the others and, SURPRISE, I was not cold. In fact, I did not get cold until the class was almost done. I did well as all my practicing the week before kicked in. We learned the dead man’s float and also a swimming stroke. There is only so much you can learn in 45 minutes; that is why the practice is so important.

We only have three more lessons and the teacher promised us we would be swimming in the deepest part before we end the classes. Sooooo, we still have to learn how to swim and take breaths, as for now, we are only taking a deep breath and exhaling bubbles from our nose while our faces are in the water and then we stop gliding, floating or swimming and come up for air. I practice in the warm pool right now so I don’t have to put on my wetsuit. My goal is to swim in the lake when the water is warm enough without a wetsuit, and without the swim cap and only ear plugs and goggles. I am so looking forward to my freedom.

Here is an astounding video and song on Surrender. Enjoy and let your spirits be lifted.

http://gilalan.com/Reconnect_Journey_Final_Class_Ida.html

This is a story of Nigeria teens who invented something that all of us have but they have put it to good use. Would it not be wonderful to end the energy crisis and all the wars fought over them? There is such hope for the world after all.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/photo-day-nigerian-teens-make-urine-powered-generator/

Enjoy the fireworks whether you are there in person or watching on the TV. I hope you enjoyed the fireworks above (did you notice the symbol of love being shown many times?)

—
Love and Light

Mary Grace

http://www.IAmMaryGrace.com
http://www.TheWoundedChalice.com
http://www.waleson5.com/marygrace.html

WHAT FEAR IS STILL KEEPING YOU FROM YOUR FREEDOM

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Beloved,

I am just realizing that my spiritual journey back to myself began many years ago. I was “terrified” of spiders as my older brother used to torture me with them. One Sunday I was at the beach with friends and I was lying down on a blanket with my young toddler so he would take a nap. Suddenly, I saw a spider crawling on his back and I just got up and ran away from him. It was instinctual with no forethought. Of course, my son was startled and ran after me and that made me run even faster. I finally took a breath and realized I had terrorized my own son. How could a mother run away when her son was in danger? I was mortified and ashamed of my action and it caused me to look at my own fears. If my love for my son was not enough to protect him, I needed to do something about FEAR.

We were living in a project (low income housing) and I had no dryer so I had to hang clothes outside. When they froze, I had to bring them back in and hang them in a hallway so they could thaw. Of course, this dampness drew many spiders especially daddy-long-legs which were the scariest to me of all spiders. When I saw one, I would take a deep breath and run for one of my husband’s shoes as I could not bear to use my own shoes because then I would need to wear them. It took two years for me to conquer that fear enough to use my own shoes to kill them. But I DID IT! My love for my son enabled me to have the courage to face my biggest fear. ) Today, as a Reiki Master, I honor all life even spiders)

I then, one at a time, looked at my fears and faced them down but with LOVE. Love for myself as I was not truly free until each and every one was conquered. Right now, I am facing down my fear of putting my face in the water. When I was around 8 or 9 years old, I was at a lake and I decided this was the day that I would reach the raft, I felt like I was strong enough to swim that distance. I did make the raft but every time I would put my hand on the stairs to climb up, some boys would push me away. They thought it was a game. I knew I was drowning as I just got too tired to stay afloat. I passed out and when I came too, I was alone on the raft. I have no idea how I got up on it, I am assuming that the boys realized I was in trouble and got me up there but then were too embarrassed to wait for me to come to.

Of course, I was too scared after that to ever go over my head in water. In fact, I could not float without a noodle, my feet needed to be able to touch ground. I just learned two weeks ago the secret to floating. Imagine all these years and I have not been able to float. A friend who I did not know was a swimming instructor in the past, told me to put my ears in the water. I tried it and my feet came right up. You are never too old to learn.

Ocean State Job Lot had wet suits for $20 and when they offered 25% off for seniors one week, I took a deep breath and bought one. I thought well, I have wasted $15 on other things so I was ready to try. I don’t go in cold water so I also do not have the freedom to go in the lake until August. Maybe this wet suit would solve that concern and fear. I went on line to find more info about them and when I went to try it on, the zipper would not come down. I have no idea why but it was stuck really tight, so I brought it back and got one with a zipper that worked, I tried it before I bought it. Was the Universe trying to tell me to not do this? I did not know but I had to try everything before I gave up. I managed to get it on and off which I felt good about but I still could not muster the courage to go into the lake with it on. That was when I received a booklet in the mail about the YMCA and I decided to give that a try.

I made up my mind that this summer I would swim in my own lake. Watching others swim with so much ease and freedom makes my heart sink. I joined the YMCA where they have two pools, one is a lap people kept at 81 degrees and over my head at one end and another warm pool which is not over my head but kept at 90 degrees. Two weeks ago, I began going to the warm pool to do exercises for arthritis and I just LOVE warm water.

I checked out the opportunities and found that I could take swimming lessons but it would have to be in the lap pool. I had my first lesson with three other people last Tuesday. I had done my research and had goggles and swimming cap and also ear plugs. My goggles were too tight and the cap kept pressing the ear plugs into my ears, very painful. On top of that my body would not stop shaking, I was so cold. I can hold my breath for quite a while as I meditate so I am used to that but he wanted us not to hold our breath but to blow bubbles out of our nose. I could hardly do that for any time at all so I kept breathing the water up my nose. It was not a fun experience, I will tell you that.

But I am stubborn and I try to keep the commitments I make to others and to myself. I was not ready to give up on my dream of swimming in my own lake this summer. I asked if I could wear my wetsuit next week and was told yes. You see, I have wanted to learn to swim for so long so I tried to think of all that would help me achieve that dream. In the meantime, I bought a cap that will fit over my ears so I don’t need ear plugs and I found and bought another pair of goggles which keeps the water out of my eyes. I have been practicing breathing through my nose every time I went to the warm pool for exercise. Either I practice before or after the exercise program. Yesterday, I finally realized that I could open my eyes under water and I felt a rush of freedom. I had been concentrating so much on breathing and I always closed my eyes under water so I never even realized that it would be safe to open my eyes. Talk about baby steps, it takes all these small steps to conquer any fear but most of all it takes commitment to yourself and your dreams.

WHAT FEAR IS STILL KEEPING YOU FROM YOUR FREEDOM?

Do you love yourself as much as this dog loved his family? You are worth it and you are loved.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/dog-emerges-tahoe-forest-2-years-reunites-family/

Can you imagine being hugged by this young girl and feeling the love she has for you? Hug yourself and allow yourself to feel the love you have in your heart for the being that is you. You are worthy and you deserve the same love that you give to others.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/girl-gives-hugs-suicide-prevention-walks/

You can change your perspective and become who you are really meant to be. If he can, so can YOU. See yourself as this child and know that you are taken care of and nurtured by some unlikely beings that are put on your path just for you to know how much you are loved. Even when they don’t appear exactly as you expected angels to look like.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ex-con-saves-baby-side-georgia-road-plays-gospel-music-calm/

—
Love and Light

Mary Grace

http://www.IAmMaryGrace.com
http://www.TheWoundedChalice.com
http://www.waleson5.com/marygrace.html