16/01/2026
After a very hectic and at times very stressful 2025, with the highest of highs (getting engaged and buying our home) and some very low lows, we had a quiet festive season. A Christmas surrounded by family and a low key hogmanay, full of bugs 🤧
Then ~ snowed in for 8 days.
Completely cut off! No work, no school, no gym, no cars...
so, this week has felt like my official start to the year.
Back in the pool 🏊🏼♀️
Back in loch🌊
back to movement 🧘🏼♀️
back at the gym🏋🏼♀️
back to school runs 🚗
and back to those quiet grounding moments and sunrise walks, with my stepdaughter even asking to join me on one yesterday before school! Genuine win 💛
One of those 'we didn't plan this, but it mattered' moments, that often end up being up there in your highlights of the year.
So yes, this week has felt like a fresh start. The kind that lands in your body, not just on the calendar. Eight days snowed in is a forced pause most of us never give ourselves...so, no wonder it's felt like the actual beginning of the year for my household.
Ive had lots of reflective conversations this week with other people who had messy or delayed starts, people who are leaning into that same gentle re-entry energy rather than big bang resolutions, more 'lets build momentum' than 'new year, new everything!!' I always think making big resolutions at new year sets yourself up for failure 🤷🏼♀️
Easing in to the year with intention rather than pressure, is honestly the best way to start a year. Here's to steady routines, brighter mornings and unexpected company on the path ahead 🥰
Fresh starts don't have to happen on January the first. Sometimes they arrive when the mind is ready for action, the body is ready to move, the breath feels deeper and slower and routines begin to flow, rather than forcing themselves upon you, feeling overwhelming.
If your year also started slowly (or sideways) remember you can begin again, any time. Each sunrise invites a new day, filled with opportunities to rest, to move, to learn, to grow, to work, to train, to heal, whatever it is you need in your life and have promised yourself in those quiet moments of self love and kindness, to do more of.
Gentle momentum counts. Returning to the water counts. Rolling out your mat again counts. Reading a page at a time counts.Tiny steps count.
Speaking of fresh starts,
My open water swimming coaching diary is open again. Now taking bookings for March onwards.
Sessions are perfect for
🌊BEGINNERS INTERESTED TO LEARN TO SWIM OUTSIDE RATHER THAN THE POOL
🌊SWIMMERS LOOKING TO TRANSITION FROM BREASTSTROKE TO FRONT CRAWL
🌊FIRST TIME TRIATHLETES LOOKING FOR STROKE TECHNIQUE AND RACE POINTERS
🌊SEASONED TRIATHLETES LOOKING TO GET STRONGER AND FASTER ON THEIR SWIM SECTION
🌊PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HELP WITH CONFIDENCE AND TECHNIQUE
🌊ANYONE WHO IS SCARED OR WARY OF WATER
🌊CURIOUS HUMANS WHO WANT TO FEEL CALMER, STRONGER AND MORE CONNECTED TO THEMSELVES AND NATURE
One to one and group sessions available. I can tailor them specifically to you and offer support, skills improvement and often, lots of laughter.
Ready to dip a toe in?
Drop a 🌊in the comments for more information, or DM me to chat.
Here's to movement that nourishes, not punishes ~ and to finding your flow and rhythm again, one breath at a time...
a peaceful 2026 to you all 💛
