Like many parents, I enrolled my girls in swim lessons when they were small. C, fearless and ready to leap, took to the water like a fish. Her younger sister, however, walked without gills, feared the vulnerability, and hated the feel of water on her face. Lacking success in large group lessons, I found a private instructor experienced with sensory sensitive children like mine. Week after week, I sat on the deck of the large swimming pool as A cautiously dipped a toe in the water before sitting down to dangle her legs in the water. Apprehensively, she’d slowly slide her body into the pool and into the waiting arms of her teacher.
In the beginning, she looked so tiny in that sea of water. Dozens of children paddling about created waves that splashed up in her face, causing her to cough and flounder in fear. She often struggled against the hands of her swim teacher, flailing to get away and reach the wall. Sitting by the pool, I quietly winced in my seat when she began to panic. As a mother, my first instinct was to jump in and save her, not that she really needed saving, but I sat there, smiling and waving in reassurance. It never took long for her to settle down, find her confidence, and follow the direction of her teacher. With arms madly hitting at the water, desperation in her eyes, A would focus on the soothing voice of her teacher’s reminder, “Just breathe. Take a deep breath, roll over on your back and float. Trust me, you won’t sink. Just breathe, in and out, in and out.”
Those words, I’ve often been reminded, work on land, too.
Since NaNoBloMo ended last November, I’ve made and broken several commitments with myself to resume a regular writing routine. In December, my days were filled with the usual holiday preparations, my older daughter came home for winter break, and I came down with a nasty bug. Still, blogging ideas rolled around in my head. “When I feel better…,” I told myself.
January and February flew by. With C back at school, I focused my efforts on readying myself and our home for the New Year (I tend to do a physical and mental “spring cleaning” in January), our homeschooling routine, and the planning and preparations for our family European vacation. “When my schedule settles down, I’ll start writing again,” I promised myself.
In the meantime though, my fingers tapped awkwardly on the keyboard and I floundered a bit, but I stuck a toe in the water and wrote one post during February.
March was consumed with Europe. Delightfully so! Last minute details filled the beginning of the month before we departed for 16 days in London and Paris. “I’ll write while sitting along the banks of the Seine,” I thought. “I’ll type away in the shadow of the Tower of London,” I mused. Neither happened. Ideas flooded the corners of my mind and my keyboard sat idle. “I’ll write when I get home,” I resolved.
I’ve been home for 3 weeks now. Life has settled down– a bit, and my mind is replete with blogging ideas. Armed with the thoughtful encouragement of an old friend who just found my blog, I sat down to write over the weekend. Like my little, future swimmer with flailing arms, my heart raced with doubts, fear, and vulnerability as I tried to formulate words into sentences. My fingers tapped out ideas and, just as quickly, held down the delete key. As the sun began to set for the final time last weekend, I felt like I was slipping under the water. I was drowning… Or so I thought.
I sat and I stared at the blinking cursor on my computer and, spontaneously, I pictured the peace on my little A’s face when she remembered to breathe. Arms and legs too tired to take another stroke, she’d roll on her back, take a deep breath, and float in the midst of the waves splashing against her face and the cacophony of a public pool.
I’ve written this blog since the start of 2011 and somewhere, in the last 4 months, I began to doubt my abilities. Though I didn’t fall off the proverbial horse, I stayed away from the stables so long I thought I forgot how to ride or, in this case, write. I also forgot the first step in writing, as in life, is breathing. Haven’t we all done that at some point? Forgotten to breathe?
Life isn’t about avoiding falls or water on your face. It’s about getting back in the water, taking a deep breath, and trying again. And, sometimes, it’s about floating until you can swim, again.
by Mary Lanzavecchia 
I completely understand where you are coming from – I posted almost daily when began blogging in 2010, now I post on the weekends and have ideas running through my head most of the time. I feel badly when I don’t have an idea, or when I allow one to die on the vine, so to speak. As writers we live in life and are subject to the changes around us… my wife will ask me why I didn’t do something and she’ll reply – “Oh you were blogging, that’s why.” But the blog is more than a distraction to me – it is where I can practice what I preach as a seventh grade teacher… times change and we all have to adapt or else, just ask a dinosaur…. keep at it, don’t stop – write when you can and I’d (or rather we’d) love to see those Europe photos. Continue the transition and keep moving!
LikeLike
What a wonderful synopsis of the blogging life! Thanks, Clay!
LikeLike
I go through the same trouble, Mary! Sometimes it’s finding a few minutes to get started, others it’s life “getting in the way”, and sometimes I just plain don’t feel like it! But, blogging doesn’t have a timeline. Our blogs stay in tact, most of the times so do our followers, and when we are ready to dive into the proverbial pool, the water suddenly feels wonderful again. So glad you wrote this, and keep it up! XOXO-Kasey
LikeLike
I think that’s really what it boils down to, Kasey, life “getting in the way.” But, then I try to remind myself, it’s not in the way, it is what is is–a season. xoxo to you!
LikeLike
I’m delighted you’re back in the water. Such a beautiful post, encouraging us all to keep swimming… keep breathing. Thank you! And good luck!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Lisa!
LikeLike
I don’t think you will ever regret “life” getting in the way of blogging. You were out experiencing and sharing with your family. Nothing can beat that! It sounds like Europe was everything you hoped it would be!
LikeLike
Europe was amazing! And, no, I don’t think I will ever regret letting life take the front seat when I keep my eyes set on my priorities.
LikeLike
Once again we are running a parallel path, so get it. Glad you took the plunge. xo
LikeLike
ya see? I thought this so much I had to post it twice! haha
LikeLike
Elin, each time you post a comment, I get to see that fabulous photo of you on the swing. Have I ever told you how much I love that photo? SO much!! Thank you for your support, dear friend!
LikeLike
I so get this. 100%. Glad to see you in the water and breathing my friend. xo
LikeLike
Funny, I feel like I’m in the same boat with you; however, you jumped out and swam to the keyboard! Whatever you do, and whatever comes your way that takes you away from writing for awhile…. please, please don’t ever doubt your ability. You are one of the best writers out there. Your words are so vivid; they take all of us with you on your journey, wherever it may be.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, Carol! Your words are so kind and fill me up. Thank you! I jumped in and jumped out. It’s what we all do, but it’s nice to know our keyboards and our readers are there waiting for us when we do jump in. When you’re ready to jump in, I’ll be there. 🙂
LikeLike
So good to know, Mary 🙂
LikeLike
So many things pop up that slow us down. I know exactly what you’re saying! I’m always telling myself, “Once this is done, I’ll do that.”
LikeLike
They do pop up, and I try to remind myself it’s all about priorities. One day, I’ll be able to put down the hose I keep calling on to put out fires and be able to focus solely on my writing. Maybe. I hope. 🙂
LikeLike
You’re back! This is a lovely post and very well expressed….and what more can any of us want. I think any time we push the river as they say we suffer….much better to “swim” with the current.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! So true about pushing against the current versus going with the flow. So true.
LikeLike
I’m right there with you, as much as I love the water. I’ll have 7 ideas every day in the shower. Cogent, interesting ideas. By the time my fluffy towel is wrapped around me everything has been washed away. When I try to rebuild even one of those thought processes I am easily convinced that no one would want to read it. 😛
LikeLike
You’ve just described my every morning! I say we team up and develop a waterproof whiteboard for the shower! We’ll be rich and we’ll have all the time in the world to write. Right?
LikeLike
Exactly! People have said to me “oh, use a memo recorder” or “I have my phone handy all the time” but that doesn’t work for me. I need something along the lines of “Dragon Naturally Speaking” or at least “Dragon Dictation” but then, of course, I’ll just look like an idiot talking to myself all the time .. and correcting it, even!
LikeLike
I’ve tried using a recorder and then I never transcribe my thoughts. Still searching for that right solution.
LikeLike
I’ve fallen into the same place, and have been searching for the impetus to get back in the water. Let’s get back in together, shall we?
LikeLike
Floaties at the ready and googles on. Let’s splash! 🙂
LikeLike
I really needed this; thank you. Feeling identical waves of challenges yet blessings. Here’s to breathing and swimming well!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading and commenting, CJ. Cheers to both of us for breathing and swimming!
LikeLike