I have so many great memories from my time as a competitive swimmer.
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I also had a lot of oversized t-shirts. You see, my time as a Brighton Bengal and CHAT girl meant something to me - so I could never really just toss out all my old swim shirts. Ultimately, I'm just too sentimental to chuck them. And thus, I carried them from house to house to house as I have journeyed these many years. I always knew that I wanted to do something with them - and wearing them ... well... was getting a little silly. They are huge! Seriously, what was I thinking ordering a large back then? I was 98 lbs for a good chunk of this! Oh yeah - I remember... it was the 90's! Everyone wore large t-shirts back then. Anyhow, I digress...
The point is, I wanted to make something that could help me to share my fond memories with my children and family.
Ergo, my t-shirt quilt:
Ahhh... I can almost feel the alarm going off at 4:21 now. I can feel the ice on my kickboard, and the dread that only a cold outdoor pool in Utah (in April) can bring. Even now I can remember joy we would get from "Super 500's" as our warmup. (Still one of my favorite things to swim).
Russ (my coach) was right about many things. One thing he often said, was that I would never again be surrounded by so many high-powered and motivated individuals. He was right. The majority of my old teammates are now very successful people... who continue to push themselves in all aspects. Many of them are now Dr.'s, Laywers, Social Workers, Teachers, Mothers, cyclists, triathletes, runners, etc. I think we gained a love of working hard.
Another thing I can thank my swimming days for: My love of synergy. Teamwork. I truly believe what one of my old t-shirts says: "Changes can come from the power of many, but only when the many come together to form that which is invincible.... the Power of One." It taught me that everything is more fun when I am doing it with other people. And, that if someone else is suffering right next to me - well then, I can endure just that much more.
Anyhow, I will leave you all with one more quote off a t-shirt we wore. I think it pretty much sums up a theme that is ingrained in my personality, then and now:
"SUCCESS is the result of WORK
WORK is the visible manifestation of COMMITMENT
COMMITMENT is a pledge to PERSONAL EXCELLENCE
PERSONAL EXCELLENCE in the present is not possible without a severe struggle."
-Albert Einstein
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6 comments:
Ok..... I love this post!!!!
Brenna, that is so motivating! I miss my positive, motivating, upbeat friend!!!! p.s. went swimming w/ a friend Wed. and did laps. If I can just get used to turning my head like you showed me I think I could really get the hang of it. I sure miss ya!
Brenna - I've been doing the same thing with my soccer t-shirts (carrying them around forever). My friend, Laura Jones, made a beautiful quilt out of her's, too ... I just need to get started. If you had some template to use, please share! I think that I just don't know how to start.
Good work!
So glad you mentioned your blog on FB! I LOVE THIS POST! My mom actually made me a quilt out of those t-shirts for graduation and it is definately a favorite. Can you even count all the memories?! Thanks for the reflection. I love like minded people who are not afraid of hard work! My blog is bbbowen.blogspot.com. -Brooke
HAHAHA, I have all of my high school t-shirts in a sack that I lug around because someday I want to make me a quilt like yours...I'm just waiting until I learn to sew (my mom offered to do it for me, but I feel like it is something I want to do). So yes, I continue to dream of the day when I have a sweet quilt like you! PS Love the pictures!
What a great post, I teared up a little! Brenna you rock and I LOVE that quilt. My mom did the same thing for my nephew and all of his baseball stuff. Such a great piece of memorabilia!
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