I originally wanted to call this blog "Lessons from Swimming" but since it's my first post of the New Year, why not make it more relevant and literal?
So last night I started a new term of swimming lessons at Grand Trunk Leisure Centre. The main reason being is that you now have to a become a member to take lessons at the YMCA. There's other politics to it that's plain stupid to me, but otherwise the switch doesn't bother me, in fact, I'm so glad I made the switch after my first lesson!
Grand Trunk just recently renovated so it's way less crowded and there aren't kids jammed pack in the pool learning to swim while adult lessons are going on. Secondly, though my previous instructor teaches here as well, I'm glad she didn't end up being my instructor because my current one is a really good teacher and she's actually a synchronized swimmer working towards her masters besides coaching it and teaching swimming lessons, how cool is that? Lastly, I swam my first lap without the aid of any floatation belt and here's how that happened.
Towards the end of our lesson (there's only 5 others besides me in the class), the swimming manager comes to us and says she may need to switch us out to 'basics' if we aren't comfortable swimming to the deep end (I'm in 'strokes'). I panicked because I didn't want to learn beginner stuff when I knew how to float, glide, and in a noob manner, tread water. Also, at the Y, I was comfortable as long as I had a floating belt or board with, on or near me, but it sounded like she wanted us to go 25m to the far end of the pool to show her our potential. Right before this, our instructor just taught us the technicalities to doing a front crawl and so we were expected to front crawl, and me being on one end of my swim-mates against the wall had to attempt first. I can't explain how intimidated I was initially because I think I do have a slight fear of drowning-I mean who isn't? AND even though my instructor would be near me, I really wanted to stay in this class.
I think my survival skills and feeling attacked under-pressure kicked in because my whole focus was just getting to the other side in order to pass the 'test' and stay. I started just gliding and blowing bubbles, then I remembered that I had to move my arms, then every third stroke I came up for air. I was so focused that I lost ground to where I even was so I looked down at one point, and that was bad because I panicked as I realized how far deep the other end was, but I kept going because I didn't want to drown! The Y was baby stuff compared to this depth. I went a little farther than grabbed onto the divider near me. My instructor commented that I did a good job and told me to go all the way to the end. I was blown away that I was actually swimming?! How did this happen? I was in shock and disbelief, but the feeling also felt extremely good!
This experience made me realize how much doubt is in my head and how much time I probably wasted at my Y lessons when I actually had the potential to swim. I don't know why I thought swimming was SO hard and that there must be some 'special' technique to stay a-float without any floatation assistance. I was exhilarated plus out of breath swimming my first lap (I apparently need to work on breathing when I come up for air), but I learned the biggest fear holding me back was and is myself. I'm in no way labeling myself a 'swimmer' as there is still much for me to work on, but I'm ecstatic to have accomplished this mile stone so unexpectedly.
Going with this stamina and relating it back to my life, I want a life coach. One that will continually encourage, push me beyond my beliefs, and keep me working towards my goals realistically despite the dreamer in me. Of course God is my ultimate life lesson coach, but like that swimming manager, I hope I can find a mentor or person in life that is willing to believe, support, and even scare me at times so I stop questioning, and just do it.
I can't wait to see what else I will accomplish this 2014! What a great start =)
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