I've recently survived a totaling of the family's SUV, rolling the car, landing 100% upside down and hanging from my seatbelt like a little bat settling in for a long day of sleep (but with more shaking and "Oh my gosh"-crying). Having made it to almost two weeks since the accident, I've been reflecting and thinking about how in the world I could have been so lucky. I placed the car perfectly between two bigger trees, landing on a baby pine tree and rotten tree that acted as pillows. I was 15 feet from a deeper, steeper ravine with no trees to catch me. I was lucky. I also was completely shook up, getting whiplash, but was spared from concussions, cuts, broken anything, or any soreness or pain lasting more than 3 days. How could I be so lucky??
I blame swimming. I blame those thousands of hours in the water, the strength training, the core work, and the aerobic ability to stress my body and walk away happily and looking forward to another day of challenges. I was pretty rattled in that car and ending completely upside-down is not something most people could quickly and easily get out of. I popped out of that car as quickly as a swimmer who has just heard the words "10-minute shower" in the middle of a tough practice. I don't know where I would be without that training, but I do know that I wouldn't trade those 12 years of body beating for anything even if the near-death experience of last week weren't in the picture. The emotional, social, and general life skill benefits won't even be mentioned here, but I have to thank swimming and all the coaches and teammates and parents who pushed me for making me a exceptional rolling ragdoll.
So please, everyone reading this, you are important to me. Wear your seatbelt always. Don't drive your car full of bottles and cans to be recycled and 50lbs of sand if you're planning on rolling it that day. Swim your tushy off, build that core strength, and be a beast. I speak from experience and highly recommend it.
I blame swimming. I blame those thousands of hours in the water, the strength training, the core work, and the aerobic ability to stress my body and walk away happily and looking forward to another day of challenges. I was pretty rattled in that car and ending completely upside-down is not something most people could quickly and easily get out of. I popped out of that car as quickly as a swimmer who has just heard the words "10-minute shower" in the middle of a tough practice. I don't know where I would be without that training, but I do know that I wouldn't trade those 12 years of body beating for anything even if the near-death experience of last week weren't in the picture. The emotional, social, and general life skill benefits won't even be mentioned here, but I have to thank swimming and all the coaches and teammates and parents who pushed me for making me a exceptional rolling ragdoll.
So please, everyone reading this, you are important to me. Wear your seatbelt always. Don't drive your car full of bottles and cans to be recycled and 50lbs of sand if you're planning on rolling it that day. Swim your tushy off, build that core strength, and be a beast. I speak from experience and highly recommend it.
