Tag Archives: swimming

above water.

Standard

i first crossed paths

with this brave and amazing future author (trish kearney)

years ago on her blog:

“my thoughts on a page”

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/8642668

where she wrote about

her family, her careers, her loves and losses, her daily life in ireland

when i later traveled to ireland

we met in person

(even though her children warned her i might really be a male serial killer)

we spent a great afternoon at an outdoor pub

near the water on a beautiful day

getting to know each other

i had no idea what her whole story was

until she began writing posts about her childhood

 floating the idea of writing her memoir

including painful buried trauma she had endured

as a young championship swimmer

over time she gained confidence

decided to tell her story

to find personal peace

to hold her tormentor responsible

to no longer be a victim

to help others who might not be ready to speak.

what followed was

her book, “above water”

a podcast, “where is george gibney?”

and unforeseen consequences

both good and bad.

this is a book of truths

of regaining power over one’s own life

of bravery

of survival

 of living to tell the tale

of an unbroken spirit

of healing

of helping others.

i give it my highest personal recommendation

here’s to you, tric, and to all who suffer in silence

you are their brave voice for each and every one of them

and i’m so proud to call you my friend.

“you don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.”

-Edwin Louis Cole 

 

“above water” is available at:

the book depository (paperback – free worldwide shipping)

https://www.bookdepository.com/Above-Water/9781529333640

 

amazon u.s. – kindle format (and on june 21 (presale) in paperback) in the u.s.

amazon uk – available now

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Above-Water-Childhood-Enduring-Survivors-ebook/dp/B08HMPF1PP

Reviews:

Not an easy read but an essential one … an important book that celebrates the power of the human spirit―Irish Independent

A completely compelling book … this is ultimately a story of Trish Kearney’s triumph―Irish Times

Trish Kearney’s memoir is proof that the powerless and betrayed can survive and triumph―Sunday Independent

An extraordinary story, at times heart-breaking but ultimately inspiring. Trish’s courage, her determination and her warmth light up those dark secret places―Woman’s Way

A powerful story beautifully told―Irish Examiner

Inspirational―Sunday Business Post

About the Author

Trish Kearney is a writer and mother of five living in Cork, Ireland. Her weekly ‘It’s My Life’ column ran in the Irish Examiner for over two years. She also has a popular blog, ‘My Thoughts on a Page’ and was awarded Best Personal Blog and Best Writer at the Irish Parenting Blog Awards in 2015.
Above Water is her first book.

out of sync.

Standard

the design i imagined i would be a part of

more what my part looked like

it was a last-minute impulse decision

my friend who was on our high school swim team

said she was going to join our new synchronized swim team

(now known as artistic swimming in the olympics)

 i thought it sounded like fun

so i followed along ready to become an aqua artist

looking back

not sure at all why i made this choice

as i clearly remember my p.e. teacher

just weeks before

telling me

(after a 10-minute treading water test)

that i resembled someone who had been shipwrecked

thrashing around just trying to survive

(quite accurate really)

 even so

i jumped into the water

where my vision of grace and being a mermaid

quickly blurred into reality

and one reason why you did not see me in the recent olympics.

“sometimes you are in sync with the times, sometimes you are in advance, sometimes you are late.”

-bernardo bertolucci

 

 

 

 

 

 

image credits: google images

 

small enough.

Standard

swimming off of belle isle in the detroit river

with the city keeping watch in the background

belle isle is the country’s largest city island park; at approximately 948 acres, it is larger than new york city’s central park. both were designed by famed landscape architect frederick law olmstead. the island officially opened in1845, when it became known as belle isle. in 2014, it became michigan’s newest state park and is being lovingly restored to it’s original splendor. 

“detroit is big enough to matter in the world

and small enough for you to matter in it.”

― jeanette pierce

https://www.belleisleconservancy.org