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Kim Chambers, a marathon swimmer in San Francisco, became the first woman to swim from the Farallon Islands back under the Golden Gate Bridge in 2015.
"If you think you can't do something, or you're afraid of doing something, that's exactly when you should do it."
http://www.kimswimsfilm.com/about
Swimming With Sharks: In May of 2011 I was the only woman on the first ever relay team to swim to the islands, and I fell in love with the place. Call me crazy but it was a spiritual connection like nothing I have ever experienced. Since then I have been obsessed with being the first woman—not to compete with anyone—but to have an achievement for myself that is very personal. Each of my swims has been a unique and transformative journey. But this one was the swim, so risky, so scary, and that's really why I had to do it. I wanted to see what I was made of.
Fear Can Make You Grow: Human nature is to say no to things that scare us, but I’ve found that’s where the growth is. But using fear to learn about oneself is not about having a death wish. I love my life and I feel so full of life when I’m in those scary moments. Everybody is afraid, but it’s in those moments that you jump in (literally and figuratively), that you learn what you are capable of.
Your Body Is a Vessel: Your body can be an amazing tool. It brought me across the English Channel and through 30 miles of shark infested waters. I went from a 119-pound ballerina to a 180-pound open water swimmer. My body’s muscle, and yes even fat, is essential for endurance, warmth and buoyancy. The ballerina never would have made it.
Adversity: After my injury, I thought that my life was over. I was shattered not only physically, but also emotionally. But the injury led me to swimming and that has changed my life. I won’t say I’m happy I got injured, but it did change my life in many ways, most for the better.
Have a Goal: I like having big, scary goals. The anticipation of attempting something that you have prepared weeks, months or years for adds richness to life. Life can thrive in the presence of big goals and it can nourish the heart and soul.
Deep Thoughts: It does take a while to settle into a long swim. But after that, for me, making it through my long swims is all about surrendering to the moment and trusting everything that has got me here. I do try to replay positive experiences with family and friends to energize me and keep me going.
The Next Challenge: I love the feeling of anticipation that comes from having a huge, scary event on the horizon. In fact, that’s when I have a sense of living life to the fullest. Right now I’m looking for another challenge and it may involve rowing across a large body of water.
On Expectations: I recently realized that, instead of trying to fit my life into a mold of expectation—find a husband, have kids—I needed to do what truly makes me happy. I’m not ready to settle down, and right now my path lies in a different direction.
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