It only lasted 30 minutes, but it was sooooooo gooood . . .

I can only imagine what you're thinking this post is about with that title.

After an embarrassingly long hiatus, I got back into the pool today.

Yes, I know I swore after Christmas that I was swimming again for good and I wouldn't fall off the wagon and go to the gym regularly. Well, I fell off the wagon and haven't been to the gym recently. We won't discuss just how long it's been. The reasons I fell off the wagon don't really matter, but they all boil down to one thing: I put everything and everyone else ahead of me in importance. And that's a very bad thing.

But I went today. I went straight from work and was in the pool by 5:20. I didn't let my unshaven legs stop me. I didn't let the fact that I had to wait for a lane turn me away. I didn't let the fear of how I looked in my swimsuit get in my way. I didn't beat myself up for gaining 10 pounds and then convince myself that the only people at the gym were all perfect physical specimens.

Nope, I went to the gym and I swam. And in the middle of my swim, I stopped and revelled in just how incredibly awesome it felt. Because it did. It was soooooo gooooood. My body didn't hurt. I could feel my lungs filling with air with every breath I took. I swam better, stronger, and further than I thought I could today after my hiatus. I relaxed.

After my swim, I sat in the whirlpool and realized, for the first time, that I got more pleasure from the swim more than the whirlpool. Then I got dressed and came home. All by 6:30.

Most importantly, I got 10 Kudos Points for my swim tonight. Don't ask. It's all about bragging rights and a few other things.

Oh, you can bet I'll be back tomorrow. I can't wait to feel that good again.