A New and Necessary Skill
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 8:14PM 
In general, I am a fairly accomplished person. I am interested in EVERYTHING, and I really love to learn new things. New friends, new games, new skills, everything! I love meeting people that are super different from me, and I especially get excited to try things that scare me. Fear of failure does not usually exist in my life... sometimes to my own detriment. :)
That being said, I am embarassed to say there is an area in my life in which I am completely helpless. I can't do this thing AT ALL. The only way I could be worse at this basic life skill? Ummm, I don't think I could possibly be worse. Cannot. Do. It.
I never learned how to swim.
This is not, however, from lack of trying. My parents enrolled me in YMCA swim classes when I was young. I was held back at "Minnow" level three times before I was christened a permanant citizen of dry land. Making "Shark" level? That was never gonna happen. I was doomed to sit on the sidelines and watch the sexy, sexy "Barracudas" dive beautifully into the deep end.
Water deeper than 5' was my kryptonite. I'd walk around in the YMCA pool and stop short right at the 5' line. No can go farther. Once in awhile I'd look for an adrenaline rush and jump off the diving board into the 12' water, only to frantically splash my way to the cement wall ASAP, breathless from my near-death experience. Sometimes, I was pretty sure that I had a genetic resistance to swimming success. My DNA did NOT evolve out from any fish-like creatures, that's for sure.
I can't even tread water, guys.
SO, I am signing up for a 5-pack of personal swimming lessons at my gym. I figure, at the age of 32, I might as well not die from drowning, if I can help it.
Pray for my swimming teachers, they're going to need it.
The List, Triathlons
Reader Comments (10)
I'm so glad you're learning to swim! I swear, not being landbound is gonna change your life. Good luck!
Oh my....you just described me. At 33, I have "flunked" out of swimming lessons 4 times, the most recent when I was 23. Sadly, the idea of failing again keeps me from trying again. My sister even refers to me as the human-rock since not only do I lack the ability to tread water, I also lack the ability to float. You would think something my size would float by default, but nope I sink straight to the bottom and stay there. So, I'm cheering for you!!
Good luck & good for you! Fear of water is a powerful thing, way to go for being brave! :)
I never knew this! One of my really good friends started taking swimming lessons last year. And now, at age 39, she knows how to swim! Good for you!!!
I'm almost 31 and I don't know how to swim, either! Like you, I have had lessons when I was younger but it was hopeless! I know in order to be able to go swimming with Piper (without Paul), I need to learn how to swim, so you're giving me a great boost! No one believes that I live by the beach and can't swim. :)
I hope you like the lessons! I think it's really empowering!
I'm actually a great swimmer. So THERE! ;-P
You win, Wrigley, you WIN!
Good for you! Its interesting to consider something that to one person is so natural and easy can be completely scary and/or foreign to someone else! My grandparents had a cottage on Lake Michigan that we'd go to every summer...I think I was swimming when I was still in diapers (ok, maybe not that soon, but I would crawl towards the water in an attempt to try!). I can't wait to hear how your lessons go - you'll do great!
I'm so excited for you! Good luck with the lessons!