Choosing our Rituals

Cold water dipping.

Not swimming.

Dipping.

I was inspired by a friend of mine.

Lynda Raino.

I saw her one day and asked what was new.

She proudly-rightfully so-exclaimed that she was cold water dipping.

I, of course inquired what exactly “cold water dipping” entailed.

She told me that she submerges in the cold water of the ocean for 3 minutes

for a myriad of health benefits.

As she explained her process, I noticed three distinctly different parts of me having very different reactions.

The first part thought this sounded completely bat shit crazy.

the second part thought…hmmmm this sounds intriguing.

And the third part, watched the thought fly by like a bird over head.

Knowing that it was fleeting, I grabbed it, wanting to be someone who would surprise even myself.

I said, when are you going next?

Tomorrow am.

8;30.

I timidly asked If I could go along.

Be a voyeur.

I was sure that I would not cold water dip the first time.

She happily agreed.

I showed up the next morning, early October in Victoria Bc.

Water temperatures average 45 degrees.

Not bath water.

I had done cold water dips with my grandparents and relatives in Sweden as a child, and young adult.

Moron dop. Morning dip to be exact.

The baltic was cold, but not as cold as the water in the Juan De Fuca Strait.

I watched Lynda disrobe, literally she was wearing her bathrobe.

As the elegant dancer that she is, she waltzed in.

When the water touched the tip of her chin, she paused, a long time.

Three minutes.

It seemed like three hours.

She smiled the entire time.

She smiles every time.

And then she gracefully exited.

Amazing.

All of it.

All of her.

I had worn my bathing suit underneath my 3 layers of clothing.

Just in case.

I decided to go in, up to my knees.

My feet, my head and my whole body screamed at me.

You are crazy!

I went in anyways.

Up to my navel.

My vagina leapt up into my frontal lobe!

I thought “good thing I am no longer in my child bearing years”!

My eggs would have frozen.

I came out proud that I tried.

Impressed with myself that I ventured out at all that first day.

I had intended to watch, from the sidelines.

It has now been about 10 weeks.

I have been dipping every day.

They say it is in the small things that we find ourselves.

That the big changes come in the daily practices.

Major revelations come within the context of our routines.

I have found great gentleness in the “how” of the “what”.

the “what” is the dip.

The “how” is what I say to myself.

My inner dialogue that guides me forward.

I remind myself daily that I do not have to do this.

This practice is not a “should”.

For the first time in my life I am not pushing.

This is a choosing.

A liberty.

A freedom.

A present in and from the present moment.

I have realized that because there is virtually no space between my skin and my bones, 3 minutes is too long. At least for now.

I have reduced my dipping time to about 90 seconds.

This is the perfect amount for me.

When I leave the water, I feel refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated.

The water symbolically washes away all that no longer serves me, and provides a clear reminder of beginning a new.

Starting over.

Leaving behind what no longer serves me

Allowing the cold water to penetrate literally and figuratively

all aspects of my being.

Today is a new day.

Every day anew.

And my dip is a stark reminder of this reality.

I am so grateful to Lynda for sharing her practice.