The pool I swim in is a typical Olympic sized swimming pool, divided into three large lanes by floating plastic lane dividers. Within each wide lane are three smaller lanes, divided visually by wide stripes of blue tiles on the floor of the pool.
When I swim I like to be next to a lane divider. For some reason, it gives me a feeling of security. With a lane divider to one side, and a blue stripe of tiles on the other, I have boundaries around me. I swim in a straight line, 50 yards in each direction. When I started I was swimming about 10 laps. Now I'm swimming 20 or 22 laps. 36 laps (down and back) equal one mile. So I'm swimming a little over a half mile.
Often I am swimming at the end of the lap period, and just prior to an exercise class. If I am really pushing it to the end of lap swim, the lifeguard releases the pool dividers from one end, and walks around to the other end to pull them out of the water. This is invisible to me until the lane divider starts to float in odd directions, towards me or away from me. When the divider is pulled from the pool, suddenly my boundaries are gone. I am swimming in the same pool, in the same direction; it is the same size. But suddenly my marker is gone, and I feel... a little lost, a little frightened actually. I begin to feel anxious.
This is what I feel like now that the idea of coming out has sprouted from a tiny seed, and is beginning to take root. Someone has pulled out my lane dividers. I am swimming in a larger pool, one that is just a little more anxiety-producing for me. I keep looking at the blue lines on the bottom... the ground of the pool. They are still there. If I keep my eye on them, I think I will be alright.
It's going to be longer than a half mile though. By a long shot.
13 comments:
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And that is just fine. Bless you.
Oh my- what a beautiful post.
girlfriend it is a fucking marathon. and you are going to run every mile of it...i won't be running but will hand you water at every mile marker.
Eyes on the prize, my friend. You can DO this. :-)
(((C)))
wow - you really ARE thinking about this, huh?? I'm sending you the very best good vibes I possess.
Coming out can be a scary and life changing event. I didn't come out until late in my adult life. God will be in this journey with you. You are in my prayers and thoughts.
Robert
Yes, they can take the lane markers, but YOU, my dear, are the swimmer, and that in the end is what really matters. Prayers.
Cecilia, you are amazing! I'm not even speaking of coming out--I'm talking about swimming LAPS and then going to an exercise class! Wow, am I impressed! And yes, coming out is a huge deal. You are in my prayers.
Cecilia, I have been following your journey and I rejoice. As you become more free, your writing is also becoming even more beautiful. Thanks for a beautiful post. I am sure it is ministering to many who read it. Blessings! Swim on, at your and Godde's blessed pace. May the waters of life continue to buoy you up.
This is such an evocative analogy. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
In the words of Dory (Finding Nemo):
just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
And she should know. :-)
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