By Jasper Myers
A swim in the cold water of the Oyster River on Vancouver Island is how Leisha MacLennan starts her day and has been for more than 550 days since the beginning of February.
Her first swim was July 28, 2021. MacLennan is a barber who owns Black Creek Barber, which she operates out of her house, and began the Cold Water Cult, though she said she takes no credit for the organic growth of the group.
MacLennan opened Black Creek Barber in the summer 2022 on a part-time basis before taking it on full-time in September 2022. Before becoming a barber, MacLennan used to be an industrial climber in Fort McMurray, but when she had her daughter she needed to find something else.
香蕉视频直播淚 had to totally retrain and find something that was suitable for mom life,香蕉视频直播� said MacLennan. 香蕉视频直播淎s much as I love the job it just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 feasible to be a full-time mom and work out of town anymore.香蕉视频直播�
She thought about heavy machinery before landing on barbering. She went to the London School of Barbering and worked at other barber shops before starting her own.
Taking on her own business full-time, although a bit scary at first, felt better for MacLennan.
香蕉视频直播淚t felt so much better, it makes you hustle harder,香蕉视频直播� said MacLennan. 香蕉视频直播淚 find chair rental and self-employment makes you hustle harder, makes you work harder, because if you香蕉视频直播檙e not doing anything香蕉视频直播ou香蕉视频直播檙e literally not making money.香蕉视频直播�
She also wanted to be home with her daughter and family more, and opening her business allows her to do that.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so nice. My daughter takes the bus in the morning now, she takes the bus home. One time she chose the bus over me picking her up on the Harley.香蕉视频直播�
She also loves working for herself because she has more flexibility in her schedule.
香蕉视频直播淲hen I have gaps in my schedule I don香蕉视频直播檛 have to get up at the crack of dawn, I can go swim down at the [Oyster] river,香蕉视频直播� said MacLennan.
The first time MacLennan decided to go for a dip in the cold water she took her camera and recorded it. She said she wanted to see how long she could stay in, and then something else happened.
香蕉视频直播淎fter having my daughter I香蕉视频直播檝e been heavier,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淓very time I would see a picture of me, my self-esteem would go out the window completely because I didn香蕉视频直播檛 look like the way I used to look香蕉视频直播atching myself on those videos, it gets me comfortable with how I look and it makes my brain go 香蕉视频直播榯here香蕉视频直播檚 nothing wrong with this, you香蕉视频直播檙e good.香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播�
As she started swimming every day and going out to more places, she found it really nice to find other people doing the same. On Oct. 31, 2022, the Cold Water Cult was born with five people in the water for an inaugural swim.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone in the group, they香蕉视频直播檙e like magnets, they get along so well,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e started to arrange what we call field trips because we meet at Saratoga and go there every day香蕉视频直播nd when you香蕉视频直播檙e there every day you kind of want to switch it up.香蕉视频直播�
MacLennan said the growth for the group was very organic and there are now groups for Comox, Nanaimo and a small one in Vancouver.
MacLennan said there are days she just doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want to go swimming, but she forces herself to and is always happy she went.
香蕉视频直播淚f I don香蕉视频直播檛 do my swim in the morning, my day is drastically different than if I do it in the morning,香蕉视频直播� MacLennan said. 香蕉视频直播淚 find I香蕉视频直播檓 crabby if I don香蕉视频直播檛 do it香蕉视频直播hen you go in the water your brain goes into survival mode and that香蕉视频直播檚 the only thing that matters. So depression, anxiety, whatever you香蕉视频直播檙e stressing about just kind of disappears while you香蕉视频直播檙e in there.香蕉视频直播�
This story is part of the Comox Valley Record香蕉视频直播檚 spring edition of Trio Magazine, which can be viewed .
photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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