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Wednesday, May 13. 2009
My Spiritual Experience in Labrador by Patricia McPhail
When my husband Larry and I decided to embark on a journey to Canada's
North in September and October, 2008 to celebrate our 40th wedding
anniversary, little did I know that it would be such a life changing
experience.
We
went shopping for waterproof boots, jackets and pants. We gathered up
warm hats, thick socks, and extra mitts. We carefully packed our soft
bags, mindful of the lists we had been given, taking nothing that
didn't have a purpose on the trip. The only thing that seemed a trifle
out of place were the bathing suits we stuffed into a corner of our
cases. BATHING SUITS??? We were going to the land of walruses and polar
bears, icebergs and oceans, rocks and mountains. We were travelling on
a Russian adventure ship with 100 people, not a luxury cruise liner
with thousands. Why bathing suits?
The information we received
prior to leaving talked about a possible "Polar Swim" sometime during
the trip. Now I am someone who likes 'hot' showers, doesn't like to
swim in the lake at the cottage unless the weather is hot and sunny
(and the water has lost its winter chill). I happened to mention to my
kids that I wasn't sure if I would take my bathing suit as I didn't
think I would do the polar swim. What a reaction I got - "When else
would you have this opportunity? You are going to go all this way and
NOT do it? ARE YOU CRAZY???" So already the guilt was weaving a path in
my subconscious brain. I packed my suit.
There were days when
we got into the zodiacs to head to the land - the most amazing,
breathtakingly beautiful land - that I really pondered what insanity it
would take to jump into that cold, wind whipped water. I felt I was
safe to back out if need be, as the only person who knew I had even
considered it was Larry. Except how would I face my children? Their
mother would be a wimp, a chicken - who would ever listen to me again
telling them to 'just do it!'
The days passed in busy
whirlwinds of adventure - experiences overloading the senses, not
wanting to miss a thing. Then came the day they announced that those
who wished to do the polar swim should be prepared to do so - at Battle
Harbour.
The 'Swim' was scheduled for 3 o'clock. Even as
Larry (who was doing it no matter what) and I made our way to the
building where we could change, I still felt that I had the option to
not do it - until Matthew Swan, the President of Adventure Canada,
handed me the flag and told me I could be leader of the cheering
section. It was at that moment that I KNEW I had to do this - not for
Larry, not for my darling, supportive children, but for ME!
Once
that decision was made everything just fell into place and it felt so
right! Standing on the edge of the wharf, looking at the dark, still,
salty water below, there was a moment when I wondered if I had lost my
mind. But before I could process that thought, I had jumped into - The
Unknown.
Ihave never felt anything so cold in my life! But it felt like I
was being caressed by black silk - smooth and velvety, inviting and
enveloping. As I made my way to the surface, shaking the water out of
my eyes, ready to take a breath, I realized that I could not take that
breath. But there was no panic - only a sense that all would be right.
Even after I was standing on the wharf, and given a towel, I could not
take a breath. And then, it happened! I had been given new life in a
single breath. Although I have no memory of being born, I imagine that
that is what it must be like. Once you have taken that first
life-sustaining breath, there is no going back. It is and was the most
amazing life-altering experience for me. The 8°c air temperature felt
positively balmy after the 2°c water. I was euphoric, I couldn't stop
laughing, I was alive!
I feel honoured to have been given the
chance to experience a rebirth of sorts - even if it was in a
relatively safe environment. The question remains - would I do it
again? Absolutely! In a heartbeat!
Adventure Canada will be visiting Battle Harbour on our Atlantic Arts Float 2009, for more information, please click here.
Experience
your own polar dip in 2009 on any of our Arctic itineraries. To
download a copy of our Canada and the North brochure, please click here.
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