Finding the Silver Lining. The Carpool Lane with Special Guest USA Swimming’s CEO Tim Hinchey III
Throughout the last several weeks we have had so many questions about our return to swimming. When? Where? How? Why? What if? So who better to bring onto the Carpool Lane than USA Swimming’s CEO Tim Hinchey III to answer all of our burning questions!
If I had to pick one word to sum up my conversation with Tim, it would be optimistic. Throughout the entire conversation, Tim kept talking to us about finding our silver lining (which, ironically is also the title of an amazing book by Elizabeth Beisel- check it out!).
Tim emphasized the importance of acknowledging our fears and our worries, but also the importance of pivoting those thoughts into something constructive. Priorities around the world have shifted towards staying healthy. If we can’t swim right now because it is not safe yet to do so, this is the time to take a step back and focus on the things we haven’t been able to do.
We miss our friends, coaches, teammates, and the POOL! We are worried that our times won’t be as fast as they were before we had to stop swimming. We are worried that we are losing our training and we are getting out of shape.
Acknowledge that fear. And then let it go. Swimming will be back. Remind yourself of WHY you swim. Do you swim for the times? Or do you swim for the FUN of the sport, seeing your friends, and racing. Stay optimistic. Times will come back, and you will have new best times. If you could swim that fast once before, who is to say you can’t do it again, or even go faster?
In times of uncertainty, reach out and make connections with others. Take a look and see how your heroes are handling this time away from the pools. Set new goals for yourself. They may be different from the ones you are used to setting for yourself, but that too is okay.
We are learning how to adapt in this new time, all of us, together. But the one thing that will never help us during this time is to stay in a place of worry. If the CEO of USA Swimming is hopeful about the return to swimming, then we should be too!
Thank you Tim for that important reminder about staying positive and healthy. We are grateful that you joined us on The Carpool Lane today! Check out the replay here to hear Tim talk specifics on the return to the pools.
