It was a great morning for my friend Wally. He made time for a full-on first ocean swim session with me at Eastville Beach, after a few seasons of our discussing wanting to work into regular, sustained ocean swimming.
This first session comprises an initial analysis of one's swim history; a self-evaluation I prompt with questions; an envisioning process; and finally the goals-setting. Then in-water for the remaining 2/3rds of a total 90-minute initial session.
Wally was a competitive swimmer and WSI swim coach, AND an Inkwell lifeguard! At one point, he was lauded by jazz saxophonist Jackie McLean for making a preemptive save on sketchy currents found at jetty's end at Inkwell Beach!
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Wally is a retired humanities teacher, an accomplished writer and actor who recently re-presented a work of his at The Vineyard Playhouse, called "A TASTE OF JFK, MALCOLM AND ADAM". Wally delivers quite a bit more than a taste of each, only his modesty would prevent him from saying so! Adam Clayton Powell, by the way, for those like me who might not make the connect, is Adam Clayton Powell, first African American New York congressman from Harlem.
Wally's incisive portrayal in cognitive and intuitive "readings" of John Kennedy's speeches with JFK's intuitive passion and commitment to the soul of civil rights, brought me -- and a few others I know-- to tears.
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We engaged envisioning images of what swims will resemble: moving in total comfort in sustained, gliding swims. Wally set himself two key goals: to himself and me for now. We entered water to go straight to work. Suffice to say with an impending move to living near the ocean; Wally knows he wants to be 110% comfortable in a practice of regular sustained ocean swimming.
With lovely weather, Wally's and my relating through shared loves of swimming led to a our discussing a constant/breathing realization I'll share here:
Ocean swimming presents an opportunity in all three mental, physical, and disciplined spiritual practices. Deepening appreciation for breath taking, then exhaling underwater in total ease, it is an athletic, and releasing, loving practice.
Look into ocean water to see the Universe and ourselves in highest thinking spirit, within Spirit, a paradox in reflection of one another and connected surroundings.
BLAP! -- a line-lure lands 30 feet away startling you to look around: a striper glides effortlessly away, shimmering in undulating, aqua/blue/black checkers.
With focus on breath, aqua-linear lines, slicing, & gliding in a horizontal water column with as much efficiency, grace and ease as we summon-- Inner Vision Ocean Swimming transmutes to focused meditation on form.
Who's to say what the limits of forms is? You've your body, your mind, the ocean, and sea-life beneath you and around you: phytoplankton and zooplankton galore! Your thoughts, your meta-thoughts, and merging of one's imagination with the hopes of ones' heart. How may we positively lift our dreaming minds' ability to love life intensely, AND to have compassion for all living beings?
On days such as we find most any day on the Vineyard this September, 2013 -- cloudy, rainy, or sunny -- what more could one ask for exploring?
Wally is happy. I believe he is actually excited.
He has a new heart for Life. And-- he’s hungry!
His had one more Real way to merge with youthful optimism --
swimming the coast in a strong, sweet, opening -- ocean world!