Thursday 6th February: When life gets bumpy

A beautiful bumpy ocean this morning. It’s the conditions when I get the thoughts many of us get on the way over to Shelly: Will I make it? How long will the bumpy conditions last?

Of course, it’s not the questions you ask but the answers you decide are right that make all the difference. Because there are very few things we can be certain of, or be in control of. And if you’re going to decide how to think, we may as well decide a way that serves us and the people around us. And that way of thinking gets useful when life gets bumpy, because when life gets bumpy we are more likely to think pessimistically. Martin Seligman teaches us in Learned Optimism(Learned Optimism book link ) that optimism is an acquired way of thinking, and in most cases more optimism is a useful thing. It leads to more resilience, better relationships & improved health. We should look for answers to the question how long will it last?, for the challenging events like bumpy water, and look for temporary reasons for the bump and that are relatively confined.

So we’re thinking the bump won’t last long and it won’t affect me much. When we have answers like this, it makes us more resilient. It’s because we feel bigger and stronger and more in control of our problems or a bumpy ocean. Like all of you swimming today, I made it back, and quite enjoyed the bumpy ride. That’s why it’s called ocean swimming, and why you feel better when it’s done.

See you in the bump.

Pete Anthony

Vital Stats

Swimmers 127 (felt like 128.92)

Water Temperature 22.8 (felt like 23.87)

Newbies 6 (felt like 5)

The Monthly Dinner – 11th February 2020 – Guest SpeakerThe first B&B monthly dinner for the year will be held on Tuesday 11th February at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Our guest on the night will be Julianna Kadar, who is a PhD student at Macquarie University. She is also a member of the Homeward Bound Program which is working to build and upskill a network of 1,000 women in STEM over ten years. Julianna will talk about her study on the Behaviour of Port Jackson Sharks. Her work involves finding out more about the activity patterns of the Port Jackson shark using bio-loggers. Her study includes both captive and wild experiments and aims to analyse distinct shark behaviour signatures. Her talk will cover variation in behaviour, social networks and migration of our lovable PJ.

Please book early for this event as it is sure to be popular. 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 atwww.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html .

Royal Far West Charity Golf Day – Cromer Golf Club Tuesday 3rd March 2020

Funds raised go towards supporting children in regional areas who have been impacted by the devastating bushfires, as well as those living with the insidious and enduring effects of drought . Help us direct our services in the most effective way by supporting kids and their carers who are at risk of long-lasting mental health challenges and trauma-related disorders. You can help us strengthen the long-term wellbeing and resilience of these communities by participating in our inaugural Royal Far West Golf Day. Includes: 18 holes, breakfast, lunch and donation to Royal Far West. Time: 7am – 3pm

6k and 10k swimmers new date for next swim is 15 February