A . Promise . To . Self

Learning the art of not giving up can also be called ‘keeping a promise to yourself’. 

I have always been good at keeping promises to and for others but have recently recognised that I’m not so good at keeping promises to myself. Part of that learning has been an awareness that I have tended to put my own wants and needs behind those of others, particularly family. 

So, this time round when I had the opportunity to spend an extended time at our place by the sea, I decided on my first day that whenever I was here I would swim in the sea Every. Single. Day - no matter the weather or season.

I wanted to do it for a couple of main reasons. Firstly as a way of acknowledging how blessed I am to be able to be in this beautiful place. How can I not make the most of such an opportunity? It felt like an appropriate expression of gratitude.

And secondly I thought that it would stretch me out of my comfort zone, especially as I knew that there would be days when I really wouldn’t feel like it. Could I keep it up? Could I keep a promise to myself?

Well, it has been forty-six days and I have been in the water every day. As the days have become cooler (and sometimes quite cold) it has been a bit challenging but now there doesn’t seem to be any question, it is just something I am doing. And really it requires very little effort because I am not having to expend a huge amount of mental energy convincing myself - it just is. And that reassures me for other goals and challenges I want to master.