Row, row, row your boat

It's really great to be back after more than a year's break from rowing. I remembered a month ago, I was still grappling with technique, coordination and stamina. It was also a time to renew my friendship with old teammates and form alliances with new found friends. The run along Marina Promenade, the pontoon, the circuit training, ......... felt like deja vu.

I'm looking forward to the race on 30 June at Bedok Reservoir. I'm also concerned about my fitness status. With slightly less than a month, I've increased the intensity and duration of my gym and running sessions. I've become more disciplined, organised and focused without realising it. I believe most people would be outcome-oriented - to win during the race. But I also think that the process is equally important - the training, the building of the team rapport, the journey that takes us through this stage.

A sport like dragonboating provide abundant opportunities to free ourselves for short periods to enjoy special moments not readily available elsewhere. Sometimes it's tough and challenging doing the anaerobic and endurance rows but great satisfaction comes from embracing the experience, becoming competent and being in control.

Once you become totally absorbed in the experience, it became fun, exciting, novel, meaningful - the kind that makes us feel great to be alive. This sport is not about the individual but every unique person that comes together to form this motley crew. The true joy and challenge lies in loving the pursuit, accomodating one another and living the various textures of our lives.