Swimming Lessons Prepared Me For the Tough Times in Life

Diving into the deep end is life in a nutshell

Photo by Drew Dau on Unsplash

“Just jump.”

That’s what my swimming instructors kept repeating as I stood at the edge of the pool’s deep end.

8 feet. 8 feet seemed like a death wish to me back then. I was in fourth grade, barely 4 feet myself, but these people were telling me to jump into waters that were twice my height. Yeah, no way.

I just stood on the edge for a long time, watching older kids and adults jump in one by one, but I didn’t want to take the risk myself. I don’t remember exactly what it was that made me finally do it, it could have been some light-hearted threats of being pushed in, but I did jump.

It was awesome.

I was forced to get out of my comfort zone

I was in fourth grade when my parents signed me up for summer swimming lessons. I was excited to learn, but then one of my biggest fears ever was drowning. (Ahem, it still is, come on, it sounds like a horribly unpleasant way to go.) But anyway, at that time, this fear was much greater.

As the classes began, things were fine. My first task was to blow bubbles underwater. Then, leg kicks, then floating, arm strokes while holding on…