World Mental Health Day: Paddling is About Simple Pleasures

October 7, 2021

Paddling for Sarah is all about simple pleasures...

Did you know that there are bee hives not 250 yards away from Fountainbridge in the heart of Edinburgh?

Neither did I until I saw them on the banks of the Union Canal as I paddled by in a kayak one lovely Summer’s evening a couple of years ago. That surprising, simple, but beautiful sight made a good evening even better. Another one of my memorable paddles was when I saw a kingfisher, about 10 feet away from me, sitting on a reed looking for his supper. Now I have seen kingfishers many times when I have walked my dog along the River Esk, but to see one that close, and at eye level was very special indeed.

Paddling for me is about simple pleasures like these. I only took it up 3 years ago when I turned 50 but I can truly say it has been a life changer. I was diagnosed with clinical depression in my mid-20s. Back then in the 90s it was not something you talked about in public, unless you were happy to be told to “pull your-self together” and/or see friends, colleagues and even relatives back away slowly (or not so slowly in some cases). Luckily today, generally speaking, the World is a more tolerant and understanding place and we have access to greater information and support for Mental Health. And, if like me you take anti-depressants, medication has come on in leaps and bounds and means I am able to get out of bed every day without feeling like a zombie. Don’t get me wrong, some days are very hard, but on the whole, I think myself very fortunate.

Anyway, back to how this connects to my new found love of paddling. When I am in a kayak, noodling up and down the canal, I find a wonderful sense of relaxation, peace and freedom. Looking after a son with Additional Support Needs and an adorable but high maintenance Labrador means that my time away from the house is limited, so I really savour every moment on the water. Some days I don’t get very far because I am chatting to people walking on the towpath and other paddlers. But there are days when I don’t want to talk to anyone and just be alone with my own thoughts, and that is ok too. I am a member of Forth Canoe Club in Edinburgh, and I don’t think I could have found a better fit for me. The committee and fellow members are welcoming, friendly, supportive and being a paddler (as I am proud to call myself) has led to some amazing opportunities and new friendships.

As part of my own mental health self- care I do a lot of volunteering, both on and off the water. This gives me not only a sense of purpose and a boost to my wellbeing, but has also made for a wide circle of friends and new experiences. I was so pleased when I was successful in joining the SCA’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Equality Group. My dream is to lead mindfulness paddles and to offer a peer support role to anyone who is thinking about taking up paddling but is not necessarily interested in competing, or training to become a coach. I have recently been invited to a training session with Sustrans, to learn about bird identification, with a view to leading groups on wildlife paddles. For me, it doesn’t get much better than that!

I’ve done several litter picks on the water, which is lot more fun than it sounds, and even weeding the ground around the club boat house was nice and further increased my feelings of wellbeing and connection.

In the Summer I had the absolute pleasure of meeting a fellow SCA Equality Group member Steven Nelson. Steven runs a charity called Beyond Boundaries East Lothian. Now, with Steven and other volunteers I am regularly supporting a group of young men with disabilities to enjoy being in the sea on a Mega SUP and tandem kayaks. This in itself is so much fun, but you can imagine what I was like when we saw seals up close and personal a few weeks ago………As I said earlier, simple pleasures are what it’s all about for me.