I was back at the Albany Bulb this morning. Sheila and I met up with the 8 o’clocks and set out under gray skies and relatively calm, though energetic, water.

One thing I love about going with this group is that I don’t have to make decisions. Because I’m always in the back, I just follow along, keeping a pink or orange or yellow hat in my sights.

It deepens the meditative aspect of open water swimming to just be following along like this, without needing to think about where I’m going or whether it’s time to turn back. I swim and breathe, swim and breathe, leaning into the rhythm and surrendering to the water and to my little swimming pod who leads me along on my morning adventure.