Firstly apologies for posting into your email boxes twice in one week, but this is something so very important and I think our district can be so proud of what they achieved. The volunteers at Spring Bay Suicide Prevention Network have organised a fundraising Winter Solstice Swim every year for the last six. I’ve missed two.
Over the years, it’s grown and grown and now the village choir welcomes us. The village rock band drums us into the water, a hot breakfast BBQ is cooked, and cakes, biscuits and hot drinks are dispensed. The SES and Ambulance volunteers come and the Police as well. It’s a great event! And all for a gold coin donation.
Today was beautiful. Calm, the water almost wistful. The sun, when it rose, promised a lovely day and reminded us that spring and summer are coming.
I’m not brave. I wore a wetsuit because my body chills rapidly. This way I can swim further out. The only problem was as we formed our circle, I was over my depth and had to tread water like mad with my legs. Not that I’d have sunk, the wetsuit is so awfully buoyant.
There was a man who spoke of depression, of what its like to walk with an umbrella over you all day every day and that to come out the other side is a metamorphosis. So he waded in in his clothes and with his umbrella and was reborn at the end. Shocking symbolism really when you think about it, but so apt and with a message of positivity.
So I leave you with pics taken by my husband and our pup. No music. Just imagine the dawn chorus of birds and the shrieks of bodies as the cold did its thing!
Cheers!
Anytime I see you have posted is a joy! And well done, you for plunging and "kicking it"! I observed the man with the umbrella in one of the photos and I felt an upwelling. What a brave and powerful sharing.
I just returned from Hawaii seeing my son and his family for the first time in a year. The wee ones are luscious, feral ,and funny as only toddlers can be! We attended the No Kings protest in Honolulu, some 10,000 strong where the aloha/ ohana spirit prevailed. In contrast to my small town protests, I've attended, Honolulu is was joyous, with dancing, drumming, bubbles, people sharing oranges, offering bottles of water, with many, many signs of resistance and solidarity. There is certainly room for both the righteous anger and celebration of resilience and I felt the power of community again!
There IS still plenty of goodness in the world. And a very powerful story about that umbrella man - I won't forget that image. Thank you for sharing Prue. (And well done, you!) xo