Schedule Changes Ahead - I Want To Get Back to the Pool Again

I want to get back to the swimming pool. Among other things, as I was doing shopping and errands yesterday, I spotted my favorite "Gate Gargoyle" (YMCA employee who checks us in at the door) having a quick cigarette at the end of the long driveway in to the building parking lot, so I pulled in, parked, and we chatted for a little bit. It was lovely to see Ed again - we've been friendly for years and I've missed my "Y" crowd a lot. I asked if they were still taking reservations for morning swim (yes), and if they were still limiting number of people per lane to one (no), and what the best way to get reservations would be (from the website instead of the app). I told him I'm planning on getting back to the pool in October for three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and that I'd purchased all new gear since I lost 45 pounds and was "swimming in my swimming suit" - LOL. Now, I've made that public commitment, I have to make sure I get this done. I'm really looking forward to getting back to the water again. 

I love swimming in the pool. I was trained to swim almost 
before I could walk, and I've always felt very comfortable 
in the water. I haven't been in the pool since early last 
year, and a lot has happened since then (broken foot, 
COVID closures, vaccination, and WildFit, to name 
just a few). It's going to be one more step towards a 
"normal" life again to return to the pool and my friends there. 

Going back to the pool for the 5:00 am swim time also means my schedule for my blog will shift a bit. I'll probably post first thing in the morning, then catch up with emails and comments for other people's blog posts after I get to the shop and turn on the laptop. It'll be a bit of adjustment for everyone. I know I have to be able to leave the house by 4:15 on some mornings (if it snows, I have to shovel before I can leave), and I still want to make sure I get at least a half-hour of meditation in before starting my day. I've been finding my morning meditation extremely important for my personal balance. 

Wouldn't a location like this for morning meditation be 
an absolutely wonderful thing? I'm not quite so elegant. 
I meditate in my living room, usually around 3:30 am 
(long before dawn actually happens), but I've been doing 
this regularly for months now, and I find I miss it on 
those rare days when I can't start my day that way. It's 
really a soothing and wonderful way to start my day. 

So I'm apologizing in advance because things may be a bit clunky for the first few weeks while I'm establishing a new routine. I'm not 100% sure I'll start this coming Monday, but I'd sure love to. If not Monday, then still sometime next week. No time like the present, right? I guess I'd better study my new Duo Underwater MP3 Player directions and get it loaded up. I'll probably start with music, but I know myself. I'll switch over to audio books rather quickly - I swim better with a good book than a good tune. 

Schedule changes always take a few days, or a 
week or two to get used to, and I'm only going to 
be swimming three days a week, so that's going 
to be different than my previous every-day 
pool time. I'm determined, however, to also 
keep up with my treadmill mileage, because I've 
been finding that helpful as well. So, lots of 
changes coming up within the next week or two. 

It's funny. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow, when I'll unwrap my new swimsuit and try it on. The order arrived a couple of weeks ago, but I was busy and didn't get a chance to do more than make sure everything I ordered was in the package. Now I guess I'll have to actually be brave and hope the suit fits properly. It would be sad to realize it will be too small to wear - LOL. 

I hate tumbling around on schedules. I'm 
a rather structured person, and I'll feel 
as if I'm running in place for a while 
until I've settled into my new routine. 
I hope my schedule changes won't be 
hard to adapt to, for me or for you, 
my readers and friends. 

So, I've rambled on enough for any single day. Have a truly excellent Thursday and last day of September and I'll be back tomorrow. And please, be kind. Spread positive influences through those you interact with today. Those tiny ripples can pay big dividends.