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Blessings are Lessons

About 15 yrs ago, I stood in line to get Patti Labelle to autograph my copy of her autobiography, "Don't Block the Blessing."  The book was a recount of her musical career as well as her personal losses of her sisters and mother to cancer.  She discussed how her entire family was gone due to breast cancer by the time she was 50 yrs old and how to live in the moment. 

I had not thought about this book until today.  During my morning swim, I focused on relaxing and enjoying the pool rather than "fighting" the water.  As I relaxed, I become more comfortable with my breathing, balance and stroke in the pool.  I am still uncomfortable going past 6 feet in the pool, but managed to actually swim without float devices for 150 meters by relaxing and actually swimming in 3/4th of the pool than focusing on the 1/4th of that I was uncomfortable in at this juncture.  I still did the same workout as described for today by my coach...50 meter pull bouy, 50m kick and 50m focus on arms/breathing.  I just did it MY way.  It would have been too much for me to focus on not drowning in the deep end so I focused on what I could do rather than what I couldn't do.  All in all.  I felt comfortable and successful.  I know when the pool opens in my community at the end of May I will able to practice the full length of the pool since it is only 2-4ft max.    Hopefully, the Sprint Tri I would like to do will not be sold out by then and I will be able to sign up with the confidence and strength to swim 300m.

What was interesting today was a gentleman who was swimming in the lane next to me.  As he went to get out of pool, he stopped to say, " Hey, looks like a good workout you are having there."  I smiled and said, " I am learning and not quite comfortable going all the way to the last 1/4th of the pool." Again, he smiled and said, " You look great out there.  I was watching you and you don't seem to have any problems when you are swimming below 6 feet, but I know how you feel.  I am 66 yrs old and I have been swimming for only 6 months." (This guy looked like Michael Phelps-strong,  0% body fat, and quite at home in the water doing lap after lap. All I was think was 6 months-WOW.)  He continued, "I had a brain tumor and survived.  I thought it would be good for neuromuscular firing and brain development to swim as suggested by my doctor.  It works for me.  I have all of my faculties.  I can swim, sing, etc.  Swimming is about rhythm.  Just relax and get into a rhythm.  Trust me it will come.  By the way, my name is Chris." I politely introduced myself.  Then he said, "  I may not remember your name because that is apart of my brain that I still my work on, but I will think of you going back in forth in the pool in your TYR suit and I am sure your name will come to me.  Please don't be offended if I forget."  I said, "Mr. Chris, thank you for stopping to chat with me. Don't worry, I won't be offended.  I will just say."Hey Chris, nice to see you."  He said, "Thanks so much." I said, "Don't be offended if I don't say Hello because I can't see a dang thing without my glasses. "  We had a good laugh.

You never know how a complete stranger is going to change your life if you are just open to what the universe is going to show you.  I feel so fortunate to have met Chris today.  His humility, tenacity and honesty overwhelmed me.  You never know what life has in store for you-Cancer, tumor, heart attack, etc.  I am happy that he took a moment of a day in his life to share with me.  What a blessing. 

You never know when or how blessings/lessons will manifest. They may be in the form of an older, White gentleman who survived a brain tumor or a young child who gives a Hi Five when you are running a road race. Just be open.  Don't let silly things like race, gender, size, preconception, etc. stop you from receiving your blessing/lesson today.  Continue to enjoy life's journey.

~Stayfit

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