It’s been about 10 years ago I saw 2 mature couples strip down to their undies and swim in a Lake District tarn. It’s an image that’s stayed with me – not in a bad way – it’s a fabulous thing and something I’ve wanted to do ever since.
The more I’ve put it off the more I’ve wanted to do it – and the volume of Facebook and Instagram images of people doing this very thing has just increased over the years and made me want to do it more. It just seems idyllic, find the right pool, a hot day and Bob’s your uncle.
Yet until just last week – I hadn’t done it. Amongst the excuses were “too cold”, “too hot”, “too busy”, “it’s just self indulgence”, “It’s a hassle”………
I’ve purchased some cheap swim shoes, and packed a towel, a costume etc in a bag and thrown it in the back of the car when we went camping in the Lakes recently. The excuses were the same. But I had more, the location was too busy (I’d settled on a lowland lake rather than a high tarn as its been so hot), no one else was doing it so it’s clearly the wrong time, does it count because it’s not a tarn. On top of that there have been more serious warnings about wild swimming and people getting into difficulty and Wastwater is a large, deep uninviting scary lake – not a tiny Cumbrian tarn.
I’m sure you can see the issue here. It’s a constant list of excuses, procrastination at its best so did some self talk around my doubts and took the plunge (no pun intended here). The slightly cooler day kept the crowds away and had the advantage of reducing the shock value of the cold water on my bare bits of skin.
The swim itself was invigorating and refreshing. I cant describe how liberating it felt. Not stripping down half naked in the countryside, but ridding myself of everything holding me back. It was a beautiful moment and one I will remember forever.
So here’s today’s thought. There will always be reasons not to do something, but there are also reasons why you should. Hold onto them, and if necessary take baby steps and most of all just go and do it! – whatever ‘It’ is – bucket list or not. Do it.
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words and pictures copyright Carolyn Trafford (2018)
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[…] their courage and sense of carefree spirit. I’ve wanted to do it ever since. I took my first wild swim in 2018 in Wastwater and followed this a year later at Three Shires Head – but then Covid stopped play. I walked […]