"I joined for the sea, but I stayed because of the people."
I never thought getting into freezing cold sea water would end up changing my life.
I joined for the sea, but I stayed because of the people.
A friend of mine shared a photo of a swimming group, so I decided to be brave and show up one very cold Wednesday morning. I felt so welcome and knew straight away that this was something special. The water was FREEZING, but the energy that followed was just incredible.
I knew I had to do it again.
Over the last year I've found myself again. I've grown in confidence, I've learnt it's okay to just be me, and I've met some amazing people who have become real friends. Somewhere between the freezing dips, the laughs on the beach and wondering why we do this to ourselves, life just started to feel better.
The sea has a way of healing you. It clears your head, gives you time to think and somehow makes all the worries feel a bit smaller. It makes you slow down and appreciate what's around you. I see things differently now, and I'm so grateful for that.
As soon as my shoulders go under the cold water, everything suddenly feels a little smaller. My head feels clearer.
One of the best things has been the people. We've shared coffees after a dip, BBQs on the beach, laughs and stories, and supported each other through the good and the hard times. I've made friendships I never expected and been able to connect with people on a much deeper level.
I've also found a place where I feel safe to be myself. To be silly, let my inner child out, laugh until I cry and not worry about what anyone thinks. That feeling is hard to find, and I'll never take it for granted.
That confidence has started to spill into other parts of my life too. Amidst all the sea plunging and new adventures, I found Run Talk Run. I stepped outside my comfort zone, ran while talking, and found another group of people who have become real friends - people I genuinely can't wait to see and spend time with every weekend.
This community has given me so much more than cold water. It's given me confidence, friendships, memories I'll never forget and a place where I truly feel like I belong.
This community has given me so much more than cold water. It's given me confidence, friendships, memories I'll never forget and a place where I truly feel like I belong.
Finding that confidence has started to spill into other parts of my life too. Photography has always been something I've loved, but now I'm finally giving myself permission to pursue it...
This journey has made me see life differently. It's short and precious, and I'm so grateful for the life I'm building - surrounded by my people, making memories and feeling more alive than ever.
If you'd told me a year ago that a bunch of people standing on a beach in bobble hats, holding a coffee and about to jump into the sea would change my life, I probably wouldn't have believed you.
But here we are.
And to the ocean...
Thank you for bringing me back to me.
