Wonder

6:44 a.m. 

14.6 degrees "warm" today and a beautiful high tide swim...

Allow curiosity to lead you to wonder. 

Well that was a waste of time

I never finish a swim and come out the pool and think, "Well that was a waste of time."

Never. 

Today was no exception. The pool at Dalebrook is super nice :-)) 

6:53 a.m. 

14.5 degrees sea temperature ... so warm :-)) 

Happy Friday!!

Shirley xx 

The beauty and mystery of right now

Movement is living and exercise is medicine.  - John Zapotocky, 92 

A cold front has come through this weekend to Cape Town and we arrived at the pool in a storm. 

The sea temperature has dropped to 11.5 degrees and we had a very quick swim! It was lots of fun swimming in the rain. We even had hail. All the rain has been wonderful as we are still going through a serious drought. 

I was wanting to post a picture everyday of my sunrise swims! I cant believe its already September  on Saturday! 

 Happy Monday xx 

Hello August

My morning routine since January has been to wake up at 6 a.m. to  a cup of tea.

Put on my costume and clothes and drive to the tidal pool in Kalk bay. 

Then jump into cold water and swim lengths with all the other "crazy" sunrise swimmers. 

It's the most crazy and beautiful way to start everyday! 

Then I'm in my home "studio" for the rest of the morning to potter and create with clay...

Today we had a whale in the bay and we watched it's huge tail flapping out the water.

We are so blessed to start the day this way! 

Paradise found... 

Happy Wednesday! 

Shirley xx 

Keep showing up...

There are 18 Tidal pools in and around Cape Town. I have decided I want to explore and swim in all of them...

Our first new Tidal pool was the very large pool at St.James beach. We were the first to jump is and the sea temperature was a cool 13.6 degrees.

It was very low tide so we saw lots of life and starfish. 

Sunday we were back at our favourite pool - Dalebrook. The temperature went up to 14 degrees!

I have been swimming for 6 months now...my challenge is to swim through winter and all year! 

I got my first pair of flippers as a reward and I love them! I'm swimming so much faster now!

Hello Monday morning swim! It was so cold! I'm really finding it hard to swim in these cold temperatures after a Durban holiday where the temperatures were a lovely warm 21.5 degrees!!

Tuesday was back to school for my two girls. This means very early morning school run. we get to the pool at 7 a.m. and it is still dark! 

It is so beautiful to swim as the sunrises!! My absolute best time to swim.

Keep showing up...

The tide was high this morning and I really love swimming when its a bit rougher and not so still and shallow. My flippers help so much with swimming faster and also any urchins that might be at the bottom or sides of the pool! 

I've had 11 urchin spikes in my foot and it is so painful!! 

Happy Wednesday! 

I hope you find time to get outside and get moving! 

Shirley xx 

Find your bliss

I've been questioning  lately why I'm getting up early before sunrise and driving to the tidal pool to then jump into cold water and swim!?

Its getting to winter here in Cape Town which means cold, rainy mornings and the temperature is dropping daily. The coldest this year Anthony recorded yesterday : 14.6 degrees! It was so cold!

Then I listened to Rich Roll Podcast yesterday and he said something that really resonated with me...it made me think deeply...and I realised that I had found my bliss.

This tidal pool and the ocean, the friends I have made in the last 3 months, the early morning routine, the habit, octopus, little sharks in the pool, dolphins ...spectacular sunrises...this is my bliss!

I have found my bliss!

Do you know what you want, what makes your really happy?

Bliss : perfect happiness, great joy
Synonym: delight, heaven, paradise, Utopia

Happy Wednesday

Shirley xx

The secret to happiness

The true secret to happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all details of daily life.

William Morris, "The Aims of Art." 

6:40 am 

This morning there was a diver in the pool. It was quite dark so he had a headlamp on.          

Another beautiful autumn sunrise with the water temperature dropping to a cool 15.3 degrees! 

Go where you feel most alive! 

Where do you go ...to feel alive?

Happy Tuesday

Shirley xx

Simplicity

"Perhaps this sounds very simple, but simple things are always the most difficult. In actual life it requires the greatest discipline to be simple, and the acceptance of oneself is the essence of the moral problem and the epitome of a whole outlook upon life." - C.G.Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul 

7:03 am Sunrise with dolphins swimming in the ocean in the distance being chased by Orcas! The water temperature was a lovely "warm" 16.9 degrees! Peter our "shark whisperer" has now discovered the beautiful Octopus he has named "Octavia"!  We have seen her every morning in her spot under a rock. Peter is sure she is looking after her eggs! How exciting! The water is so clear we can easily see her and all her colours and long thin tentacles as she swims. 

The sunrise swimmers as we sit and chat and swim together every morning. It is the most simple and wonderful way to start my  day! 

How do you simplify your life? 

Shirley xx 

Silence is more appealing

6:45 am with all my family - I was so excited to have everyone swim with me! This view is... bliss! 

I decided to take my brother the "sage" ( the wise one) advise and only ask Anthony the water temperature after I have swum! I really want to focus on the joy of swimming and the beauty of the sunrise.  ( 15.9 degrees) Yay ... warmer than yesterday :-))

Soaking in the first rays of the sun...

In such a high pressure lifestyle that we all lead, you may think you thrive on stress and speed. However, when you pull back, you will come to appreciate silence and solitude. 

You will lose the guilt about sitting still and discover that it is possible and rewarding to do less and be more. 

This is happiness ... all together in my very happy place! 

What are you doing everyday, to stop and just  be ....still? 

Happy Friday 

Shirley xx 

Consistency....

" Consistency beats intensity. Consistency beats volume. Consistency beats passion. Consistency dictates results. Consistency is what defines character." Rich Roll  

I just love this quote!  I listen to Rich Roll Podcast podcast every week. He is a athlete, author  and motivational speaker who now has a very successful podcast. He interviews a wide range of people on a variety of topics. I find the topics relevant to my life right now and sometimes challenging but always very interesting. You should check him out. http://www.richroll.com/

So today it looked and felt like winter in Cape Town. The tide was again at its lowest and the water temperature was a low of 15.2 degrees!  ( Anthony has a digital  temperature gauge and he updates us every morning when I arrive at the pool) 

They have cleaned and scrubbed all the slippery algae off the sides and big rocks and then limewashed it. No more slipping and sliding! 

I have been swimming in this beautiful pool for 3 months now! This is the coldest water I have ever swum in!! My springsuit might need to be upgraded to a full wetsuit in winter. :-))

So for the first time in my life I'm realising the importance of a daily morning routine. I have started to cultivate this morning routine everyday and it really has been life changing for me!

I have always enjoyed exercise. Fanataticism is unsustainable. In other words it is not about the epic workout. Instead its about what you do daily. It's those small actions undertaken regularly that dictate not just what you can achieve, but who you are as a human.

I would never have guessed that for me it would be swimming - every morning at sunrise with my girls and the new friends I have made!

I am truly grateful...

Do you have a morning routine? Has it changed or shaped your life?

Happy Thursday!

Shirley xx

Dolphin show!

This morning as I arrived at Dalebrook there were little  swiss rolls, cupcakes and an array of sugary cakes. It was one of the ladies birthdays so she brought treats for everyone to share! Cakes and a swim - now that's the way to start the day!!

7:01 am sunrise and Anthony ( he takes the temperature of the water every morning) told us it was a warm 17 degrees! :-)) 

A we were swimming we looked out into the ocean we saw hundreds of dolphins swimming, jumping and leaping out the water! We  stopped and watched the amazing - DOLPHIN SHOW!! So beautiful!  

Every 2 weeks the men arrive to clean and scrub all the algae ( which becomes very slippery and dangerous to walk on ) off the side walls and steps going down into the pool. 

This pool is more than a place I come to swim - it is my therapy. I have always known the sea and the beach is "my very happy place". It is the place that brings me the most joy and happiness. 

I am not the greatest swimmer, actually I have never been able to swim very well. But I love being in the water! It is the most wonderful exercise to start my day.... what can you do today to have some fun? 

" Nobody looks stupid when they are having fun." Amy Poehler 

Happy Wednesday! 

Shirley xx 

 

Be in your body with joy!

Last nights sunset was so magical! Kommetjie beach is a 5 minute drive from our house and it is a beautiful beach to have a long walk at the end of the day. 

It was one of those days in Cape Town yesterday with not a breath of wind and the colours in the sky as the sun set was breathtaking...

 This morning, the sunrise  at Dalebrook pool at 6:45 a.m

.  The air was warm and you can see and feel the change in seasons. Its still low tide and the water is so clear. 

In 3 months of swimming here everyday I have met so many lovely friendly "early bird" swimmers. We all chat and laugh and swim together and although I don't swim many laps ( some of the grannies and grandpas do MANY laps  - amazing) I have found for me at this time in my life I just need to swim with JOY! To "Be in your body with joy! " my favourite quote from my friend Miranda. 

There is "yoga " man who does his stretches as the sunrises then jumps in for a swim. Then there is "shark" man or as he likes to be called the  "shark whisperer " ! :-)) He has been finding the shyshark who has been in the pool for a few days for us and tracking its movements.... 

There is a lovely couple who  have been coming to the pool to swim for 7 years and swim all year round! They take the temperature of the water everyday ... 17.6 degrees today! Warmer ... as last week it was down to 16 and 15.8 degrees! It was soo cold last week. 

They swim all the way through the Cape Town winters! ( I'm going to wear a wetsuit!!)  

Exercise and being out in nature are the most wonderful gifts we can give ourselves! 

I hope you find the time today to "Be in your body with joy!" Find time to move your body - mindlessly. Now try this - everyday - and you will see your life change,,, 

Happy Tuesday 

Shirley xx