It’s not uncommon for my friends to say, “I don’t know how you do it.” They are referring to the amount of time I spend teaching and coaching swimming, particularly the weekends and 5 am starts. I suspect not only do they wonder ‘how?’ but ‘why?’
So why do I and my fellow coaches and teachers do it?
Take tonight for example, a young swimmer nearly burst rushing out to show me his first ever medal for swimming won at a school competition today. Here I am at home now typing this and
I can still see his smiling face and the excitement in it as he shared his news.
Or listening tonight to the seventy plus young swimmers aged six to nine sing happy birthday to a new seven year old who swung between delight and embarrassment as she listened to them roar her name.
Or one evening last week realising one of our senior swimmers had come teaching, as she does voluntarily every week, despite the fact that that evening was her eighteenth birthday.
Or the following morning at 6 am, when her friends arrived to the pool with a cake and a candle to mark her special birthday. These senior swimmers have been at the club for years and while others speak disparagingly of the teenagers of today, I am more than confident that our future generation will do us proud. Swimming has become more than just a sport for them. It has given them wonderful friendships and taught many lessons.
Or last weekend when we traveled to a competition and I saw young and older swimmers chat and sit together, cheer each other on and be there when swims went well and not so well. Some at the very beginning of their swimming lives, others very experienced.
When my friends speak of not knowing how I and my fellow coaches do what we do I understand why, it’s because they only see the time and effort we put in, not the many and varied rich rewards we receive every day. They wonder and perhaps at times pity us. But as I sit here tonight hearing ‘happy birthday’ and seeing that smiling winner in my minds eye I couldn’t be happier.
Mind you that doesn’t mean I wont skip off early tomorrow for a night away with a gang of girls and enjoy it twice as much because I’m not getting up at the dawn (but might be coming home at it!)
photo credit: C-Serpents via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
You sound very dedicated, Tric – kudos for that
I’m lucky to spend so much time doing what I enjoy.
Well, that’s great!
I understand Tric. It’s a fantastic way to give and live.
Yes I think we get more than we give most days.
yes, those are all such lovely reasons, if people knew, they would never wonder. (have fun on your girls’ night!)
I’m barely recovered!
Yes Beth I think it’s impossible to really say how I feel doing what I do. Long may it continue.
Taking care of the next generation is worth every early morning! I totally get it, Tric, and so do the kids 🙂 Thank you!
Yes, hopefully they do.
I see the same dedication and joy in my daughter in her second job as a gymnastics coach. The training she does so she’s fit enough for the role, the unpaid weekends spent as a judge at regional and national competitions when her friends are out partying. Yet she absolutely loves it, so yes, I get it and I’m glad for you that you have something so rewarding in your life x
My daughter too is involved in gymnastics and is just as dedicated. It would be lovely to imagine they are both as passionate in thirty years time. It’s a rich reward.
It’s those rewards we don’t always see concrete evidence of that give us the desire to carry on in the jobs we do. Plus I guess a night out that might extend into a long night of relaxation and whatever might be just the concrete reward you need. Well done Tric, the world needs folk like you.
Thanks Michael. I’m home having enjoyed my ‘reward’ night away to the full.
Good Tric, hope the ‘reward’ was one to long remember 😃
Well said. You took us with you into the joys of giving.
Thanks Eileen. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.
Late again Tric, hope things are continuing to go swimmingly and the glass is half full or better still is overflowing.
C.J. we made sure not to waste a drop as our glasses were indeed overflowing.
Hic!!!