Abigail Sheridan is a high school sophomore living in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She currently swims at Parkland Aquatic Club and swims and runs for Parkland High School. She is a lifeguard at Kaybrook Swim Club where she started her swimming career as a summer league swimmer in 2007. Her favorite strokes are butterfly and backstroke.
I love swimming.
I love the rush of cold as I jump in, to the pain of working hard during practice, to the satisfying feeling after completing a great set.
From time to time, of course I complain. I dislike breaststroke sets, but I know that I can improve by working hard. At meets, sure I complain about having to swim breaststroke, but I make sure to only say it once.
The truth is, any complaining gets on everyone’s nerves. It destructs morale, decreases motivation, and worsens performance. With the long course season quickly approaching, my resolution is to stop complaining altogether.
Everyday at practice, all around me, people are complaining – “it’s too cold,” or “it’s too hot,” and “I hate distance,” or I hate IM,” and even “I don’t want to be here.”
At meets, before races, I am surrounded by people complaining about how much they hate meets.
But when you go into a race thinking of how much you don’t want to swim it, of course the result will be nothing short of dismal. Use every race as a practice, and go into it with a positive attitude, motivated to swim fast.
Take it into perspective – How does complaining help you?
Does it make practice feel shorter?
Does it help you make it through a tough set?
Does it increase your motivation?
In reality, you may be making someone else feel that practice is longer, or hurt their motivation during practice. But more significantly, you’re doing that to yourself.
When you complain, you’re bringing negativity into the pool. Motivation is destroyed by negativity, but fueled by positivity.
Next time you complain, all I’m asking is that you think of the effects that what you say might have on others, including yourself. Try and change what you say to be positive. Instead of complaining “we’re only halfway done” say “great job guys, halfway done!”
Little positive comments create a positive atmosphere that makes it easier to find the motivation to push through a hard set.
Awesome advice!
If one does truly love swimming you should quit. The scholsrships are not large and you would be much better off doing something you enjoy. Swimming is a sport that very very few people truly love
Swimming is a wonderful and enjoyable sport. It makes many people happy, maybe you should try it. Your comment is a bit irrelevant Joe. Have a nice day.