Journeying #18 with Annmargaret Nolan, Stories of a Sea-swimmer

This is a very special and personal conversation, and I feel very honoured to be able to share my guest’s story with you this week. I knew I wanted to do a podcast around the rising popularity of sea-swimming before 2020 came to a close. I just wasn’t sure how I would like to cover it, or who I would like to talk to. As with most things this year, I’ve been learning to trust the universe and allow things to happen as they are meant to. And sure enough, through a series of serendipitous events, I crossed paths with today’s guest. Annmargaret Nolan is a lecturer, Mindfulness & Positive Psychology therapist, Leadership Coach, and more recently, a daily sea swimmer! 

We are now both part of a sea-swimming group in our local community. I had noticed Annmargaret was swimming at least once a day, if not twice. I was intrigued by how committed she was – especially as she is in a similar boat to myself, juggling work and young kids. Eventually, she shared with us that she had made a quiet commitment to herself to swim for 100 consecutive days. I really admired her subtle dedication. And I was delighted to be one of a tribe of brave, strong women from our community who came out on possibly the iciest cold December morning of this month so far to support her 100th day of sea-swimming. One woman’s quiet promise culminated in a joyous, community-oriented occasion that also raised over €3.5k for Focus Ireland.  

But I still was curious to know what drove Annmargaret to be so committed to her personal goal. And I am so pleased that she was willing to share her story here with me. I believe Annmargaret’s motivation to share her story is to help normalise these conversations for us all and accept that these thoughts are ok. That 'it’s ok not to feel ok'. We just need to learn the language to ask for help. I hope this episode does take another step toward normalising tough conversations around loss, grief and finding help. And a deeply sincere thank you to Annmargaret for her honesty and bravery. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Loss and allowing time to grieve
• Suicide ideation - normalising the understanding that 'it's ok not to be ok'
• Committed action
• Suffering and forming deeper connection 
• The tyranny of positivity - need to embrace our dark shadow side also
• Building strength and resilience through sea-swimming
• Embodiment, and self-care in the act of sea swimming
• Motherhood and unhealthy perfectionism - seeking approval externally
• 100 days consecutive sea-swimming - a quiet promise to herself
• A relaxed mind is a creative mind
• Her impromptu sea-swimming fundraiser raised €3.5k for Focus Ireland
• The importance of listening when someone expresses suicidal thought
• "where there's great love, there's great longing" 

SOME RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Charlie Mackesy's book: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse': https://www.kennys.ie/bestsellers/the-boy-the-mole-the-fox-and-the-horse-1
Susan David - Emotional Agility: https://www.susandavid.com/new-index
Dr Brendan Kelly, Psychiatrist: https://www.tcd.ie/medicine/staff/KELLYB19
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