I was invited to take part in a tour for Swimming Out Of Water an Olympic medalists memoir. My thanks to Babs for the tour invite. You know I can’t say no to you Babs 
Catherine Garceau a synchronized swimming Canadian bronze medalist from the 2000 Sydney games writes about her life and career.
Swimming Out of Water takes you through Garceau’s life-altering experience of being caught alone in the Red Rocks of Las Vegas for 24 hours. Weaving through the many life stories that lead her to the Olympic podium in Sydney 2000 in synchronized swimming, she reveals the secret struggles she had with eating disorders and the many wellness discoveries as she took on her own healing journey. Studying mind-body nutrition and realizing the negative effects of chlorine byproducts for swimmers, Swimming Out of Water is only the beginning of her plan to advocate and educate for better applications of the information she so passionately shares not only on the subject of Chlorine Byproducts, but also for applicable solutions to emotional eating.
Garceau is the co-founder of E.A.T., Emotional Awareness Training – for 360 Degrees of Nourishment. This complete health-building program includes phone app, home study course, community support and private coaching.
Excerpt
Inundated by Grace
“And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—
we know that we have what we asked
As the sun kept rising, I started screaming for help.
“HEEEELLLLLP!”
Just an echo.
“Anyone? HEEELLLLP!”
Just an echo.
Was I too early? Perhaps. Surely I would hear someone within the next hour.
I was sure I didn’t have much more time left before my rescue, so I sat down, grabbed my journal and pencil, and flipped the pages past the prayer I had written for protection at the onset of the night. I looked up at the rising sun, smiled, took a deep breath, and looked back down at the blank page. So many memories and insights seemed worthy of noting down, especially the clear answer I had received to my question regarding purpose.
Why am I here? Stuck on this ledge, stuck in this body, drowning in emotions and darkness? Where is the freedom and love?
Even though I was convinced that the realizations I had made were grounded in truth, paradoxically, I still doubted my ability to succeed. How was I to get all of this done? I still had no clue. Sure, I was ready to have faith in God, but to really believe, I felt I needed an experience of God. When Joseph Campbell, expert in mythology and world religion was asked the question “Do you have faith?”, Campbell answered “I don’t need faith. I have experience.” If experiences that transcend the ordinary allowed us to have a connection with and the experience of the divine, then I sure was ready for mine.
Drawing from my success of making it to the Olympics, starting with the end target in mind and working my way backwards was my default mode of going after new goals. But that was my old way of doing things and this dark night of the soul had certainly highlighted shortcomings to this method. Moving forward in my quest of realizing new visions, adding a large dose of faith and spirituality to the mix could not be left behind.
But first things first. Before I could take any action, I had to get myself off this ledge and back to safety.
“HEEEELLLLLP! Please! Anyone! HEEELLLLLP!”
Again, just an echo.
