Thursday 30 August Monkey Mind

You know the times you get the biggest insights from the most innocent conversations. Waiting for the swim this morning I said Gooday to a mate emerging from the surf. ‘How was the surf mate?’ I asked, and he replied, ‘I just had one wave but I need it every morning to get the monkeys out of my mind.’ We then had a chat about our morning rituals that clear the forest of the mind from the monkeys – the uninvited thoughts that jump in and refuse to jump out. So we each learn ways of clearing out the monkeys. For me it’s a swim filled with mindfulness, gratitude and flooding my mind with the big goals I demand my life focuses on. When I do this there’s no room for the monkeys, and if they do jump in I make them really small and watch them as they disappear off to the horizon.

I’m sure each of us who swim has a way of managing the monkey mind, and it’s a real challenge to swim and be monkey minded at the same time. Particularly when its chilly (15.8) and bumpy like it was this morning.

Here are a some of our monkey minded swimmers, including the Women of Wall and Men of the Door – or WOW and MOD for the uninitiated.

Keep those monkeys out of you mind,

Pete Anthony

Stats:
Swimmers  123.4
Newbees  0.0
Water  15.8 (felt like 14.987659)

Monthly Dinner – 11^th September 2018 – Guest Speaker

The next B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 11th September at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. The guest speaker on the night will be one of our swimmers, Jennifer Mulveny, who will share the benefits of mindfulness during our swims and in our daily lives. Jennifer is a certified yoga instructor and passionate student of mindfulness. She leads the beach yoga sessions on Manly Beach before our swims every Thursday morning, constantly reminding students that mindfulness can be done on and off the yoga mat, before a beautiful sunrise, or just as well sitting in traffic or standing in a queue. The presentation will include some mindfulness practice that can be used during swims or as part of a regular home practice.

The cost of the dinner is great value at only $25 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each. Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential:  To avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book HERE

2018 Winter Badge Ceremony – Sunday 16^th September

You’ve done the hard yards and got your Summer Badge(s), now come and collect your badges with all the pomp and ceremony the B&B can muster.  Bring along $10 for each badge you have earned (correct money appreciated). The venue is the Royal Far West Children’s Home (opposite the beach) on Sunday 16^th September, straight after the regular swim! Everyone is welcome, family, friends and swimmers alike.

A $5 donation will be payable to the RFW at the gate for hosting this event, and …. RFW will provide a FREE breakfast (sausage sandwich and a coffee/tea). Bookings are essential to ensure there is enough food.  Book here for Badge Ceremony.

All 2018 winter badge qualifiers will be presented with their well-earned badge(s), so whether you are getting one personally or you want to enjoy the celebrations of your fellow swimmers, a great morning is guaranteed, so come along, soak up the atmosphere and get inspired for the upcoming summer badges.

In conjunction with the badge ceremony, Royal Far West will be holding a raffle with great prizes, so don’t forget to bring along extra money for the raffle.