So how did you spend your January 1st?
Did you spend it discovering just how bad New Years Eve hangovers can be? Did you go out meeting local politicians at levee’s across the land? Were you glued to the TV watching US College football all day long? Or, did you do what I and thousands of others did at venues all across Canada and beyond and take a big jump into an icy cold body of water?
For the 3rd year in a row, I spent my January 1st participating in the local Polar Bear Swim held in Ajax, Ontario where I live. It’s the 7th year for the swim, the 3rd I’ve participated and the 2nd year in which I served as one of the organizers. As with virtually all other Polar Bear swims that take place, there is a charitible component to our swim as we were raising money for our local hospital and their public campaign to raise money towards the purchase of new Echocardiogram diagnostic machines. However in my personal case I think what compels me to perform such an extreme event has more to do with symbolism that altruism.
The honest truth is that there isn’t much that is typical when it comes to jumping into a massive lake where the water temperature is around 3 or 4 degrees celcius and the air temperature outside is about the same or less. To take a plunge like that requires one to go way outside their comfort zone, and for me that’s exactly the point.
For many the beginning of a new year is the chance to start anew. We make promises and resolutions to do what we haven’t before or to be who we haven’t been. Yet these same people often never take those critical first steps to make their resolutions into a reality. In other words they say what they want to do, but then often never take the critical first steps to get it done.
I’m not suggesting that people everywhere resolved to go jump in a lake, but rather that jumping in a freezing lake is a heck of a way to start off a year in which one wants to achieve things they’ve not been able to before. I think there is some inherent symbolism in starting the year with such a radical and unconventional exercise such as polar bear dip. I mean if often what holds us back from realizing our true potential is our own inhibitions or personal obstacles, jumping into a frozen lake on Jan 1st is a great way to prove you really can do anything you want to do!
That’s how I felt after jumping in for the 1st time on Jan 1st, 2010. I felt it was a great way to start the year by doing something I’ve never done. I kept that attitude throughout the year and I honestly felt that I had a more successful year as a result.
While it always feels good to support a charitible cause such as our local hospital, to me I always use the swim as a springboard to great things in the year that lies ahead. While I recognize that not everyone is willing to do the exact same thing as I did, perhaps they can find their own unique method of symbolizing the leaving of your comfort zone that is so critical to true personal and professional growth.
Whatever method one chooses, I hope that it leads to a successful year ahead. Good luck!
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