Nearly every artistic swimmer has had a time when they wondered if the sport was really for them. Hours, days, weeks, months, and years dedicated to this demanding sport. Every grueling practice and every sacrifice made just so that you could have a chance at excelling. But was it worth it? What if it was all a waste of time? What can it do to help in life, anyways? More opportunities if you quit. More free time. 

If you are considering leaving this sport and are ready to make the decision, wait. Is it possible that you have overlooked all the joy synchro has brought you and only seen what you have had to endure?

Teammates. They are people who become dear to you through seasons of competing alongside each other. It it one of the warmest feelings in the world to have someone who you can relate to, and a teammate is one of those people. They know how it's like. They too have given an enormous part of their life to synchro. Your teammates have laughed and cried with you. They trained right with you under the same coaches, and they were there through everything the team went through. Some of them become friends that you would give the whole world to. You may have each other's contact, phone number, whatever. But if one of you quits, your bond will never quite be as strong as before. Because one of you has given up on the sport that first brought you teammates together.

Which season is this? The first? Okay, if it really is your first year of synchro and you were just dipping your toes in this pool, then this blog post doesn't really hold as much meaning. The seventh? Well, that is a whole different matter. This basically means that synchro was there for your whole childhood. Birthday party? "Sorry, I can't come, I've got a meet." Overnight school trip? "I really can't come, I'll miss WAY too many practices."