#4. The Case for Follow through

I’m writing later in the day today, a reminder that nourishing ourselves in the midst of busy times matters. Writing matters to me.

This morning, I went swimming. I almost skipped it. Do you ever have days when it’s hard just to leave the house? That was today for me. Swimming is still a new habit, and it would have been easy to talk myself out of going, but I didn’t. I went, even though I arrived 30 minutes late, and I nearly finished all my laps. I’m proud of myself for that follow-through.

After the swim, I met a wonderful woman. We chatted about lane sharing and the swimmers who make it difficult. Apparently, I had been sharing a lane with one such swimmer who managed to “scare” everyone else away. It didn’t bother me and I shared the lane just fine.

Our conversation shifted to the weather: snow in Calgary at any time of year, early snow in Ottawa, and then to her work. She told me about her professional training and that she regularly signed national scholarships. One of those scholarships, it turns out, was mine.

Years ago, she would have signed off on the scholarship that supported me during my master’s degree and helped my family during that time. I told her what I studied, how my career unfolded, and I thanked her on behalf of myself and my family for approving that scholarship.

What are the odds of thanking the very person who once approved such a pivotal opportunity in your life?

I’m deeply grateful I didn’t talk myself out of swimming today. Had I stayed home, I would have missed a meaningful connection and a moment of gratitude years in the making.

A reminder of the power of follow-through: you truly never know what’s waiting when you show up.