It’s Sunday, and this morning was my second day running of working out in the park next to my condominium.
Journaled on Sunday, 19th of July 2026 | Santo Cristo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 30 degrees, hot, sunny and blue skies.
I started yesterday, careful not to wake my daughter, who was asleep in my studio flat. So I went downstairs, out of the condominium, and 20 metres further on, to a small man-made park with concrete benches, a play area with swings and roundabouts, and a bit of grass.
Yesterday was hard, and today my left calf muscle is complaining loudly. Even so, I skipped, stretched, did some Tai chi, and walked three kilometres on a round route, passing the supermarkets and the local bakery on the way back.
It’s a beautiful day, the sun full strength but not torturing us since we’re in winter. When I got back, Yasmin had had a quick breakfast, and we headed down to the pool.
I hadn’t swum in a month, thanks to the cold and rain, but today was beautiful. Even so, the water was freezing, and it got me thinking:
- Diving straight in beats slowly climbing down the ladder. The thermal shock hits immediately, but it wears off fast, and you’re fine. The ladder is slow torture. Every centimetre of skin that touches the cold water sends a shock wave to your brain telling it to stop, so you stop, then start again, then stop again as you go lower, and the torture just repeats.
Stopping and starting like that is a bit like life: starting something new, something that needs doing. It’s better to dive in and get it over with. Life is like water running down a hill. Slowly, it stops and mixes with the dirt, and it’s not as pure as before. Quickly, without stopping, it stays clean, and it keeps moving.
- Once you’re in and swimming, moving, the blood warms up fast. The shock, the so-called pain, the bad feeling, all of it goes, along with the cold. It’s the same with life: once you’re in the thick of things, the initial confusion and awkwardness wear off, and you’re free to just get on with it. I think it has a lot to do with speed, getting on with what needs doing rather than wallowing in hesitation, fear, and feeling lost.
It comes down to that moment standing at the edge of the pool: get in slowly by the ladder, sit and dive in, or just give up. Funny how it’s all connected, especially when it comes to life.
While at the pool, I journaled at a table next to Yasmin, who was catching some sun on a lounger. I got two entries written, which made me happy. I like journaling in different places, not just at home.
After finishing, I showered (compulsory before the pool) and dived in exactly as I’d just preached. Technically, diving isn’t allowed by the building’s rules, but I do it anyway, and the lifeguard knows me, so it’s all good.
Today I only did 20 lengths. Before my break from swimming, I’d usually do 30 or more, but coming back, 20 was enough. Like everything in life, 20 is better than none.
In the afternoon, we watched the World Cup final: Argentina against Spain. I wanted Argentina to win, for Messi, but every Brazilian I spoke to was rooting for Spain, pure South American rivalry. Spain had the better team on the day and won.
Be kind and be happy. If you cannot be happy, still be kind, but never be naïve.
Thank you
Thank you for reading. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.
Richard
