Have You Ever Taken the Polar Plunge?
Every year, my friend Frankie takes part in the Polar Plunge at the Jersey Shore. In the middle of winter. In the Atlantic Ocean.
If you’ve ever dipped a toe in that water in July and thought it felt cold, you can imagine
what it must have been like in January. Yet there he was, running straight in with hundreds of other brave (or slightly crazy) people.
When someone does a Polar Plunge, their body reacts instantly. The moment icy water hits the skin, tiny sensors send an urgent message to the brain: Something big just happened. Heart rate
jumps. Breathing speeds up. Blood vessels tighten. Adrenaline floods the system. It’s your body’s built-in survival response kicking into high gear.
That intense reaction is also why so many plungers come out laughing, cheering, and feeling energized. Along with adrenaline, the brain releases endorphins...natural
“feel-good” chemicals that can create a temporary sense of happiness and even euphoria. Many people describe it as feeling wide awake, proud, and strangely joyful afterward.
You don’t need to run into the Atlantic in winter to experience this effect. A cool shower, a splash of cold water on your face, or a brisk walk on a
chilly day can trigger a gentler version of the same response.
As for me? I’ll happily cheer from the beach...bundled up in a coat, gloves, and maybe a blanket. Frankie is way braver than I am, and I’m perfectly okay admitting
that.
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Here's what just one GON reader had to say...
"Dear Maria,
I couldn’t agree more with you about today’s newsletter (January 14 issue). I have several of my
parents’ items that I’ve repurposed because they’re beautiful.
For example, my dad had a glass dish with a silver tray and cover to store cigarettes in. I use it as a candy dish.
And an old crystal ash tray holds fruit on my kitchen counter. A beautiful teacup and saucer holds flowers in the spring.
Sadly, the smoking took both my parents but I’m glad to be able to use such pretty things but in a different way, every day."
-- Mary Ellen, Long-time subscriber, Denville
NJ
