- What do we fear…besides the water itself? We fear of what other swimmers will think as we’re holding onto the side doing “baby skills” like putting our faces into the water to blow bubbles.
- And what about our ego? Our egos don’t want us to be the “newbie”…to be the one that doesn’t know what to do…to be the “odd one out” when everyone around us looks so competent.
The reasons why folks finally commit to learn-to-swim lessons are many. Sometimes it’s grandkids or kids who are learning to swim & folks realize that they couldn’t save those kiddos if needed. Or it’s an event goal like a small triathlon. And sometimes it’s health reasons. This is why I’m so proud of Naren. He recognized (before it was too late) that he needed to make life changes to improve his health. And I’m just psyched that he included swimming! Naren, because you set aside fear & ego to learn to swim, you are an inspiration to us all!
In Naren’s own words:
“I love water & enjoy playing in water, but I never got the chance to learn swimming. Probably because I was always very busy with work!
A few years ago, I realized that I did not have good work/life balance & I had prediabetic symptoms. So, I decided to put some time into improving my health by changing my diet & doing regular exercise. In the 1st year I lost 16 lbs & began to feel active & healthful. In the 2nd year I took up tennis & lost another 10-12 lbs.
As my health improved, I started doing long-distance bike rides along the Michigan coastline. I loved the beautiful beaches & clear blue water…but what I really wanted to do was swim in Lake Michigan!
After moving to Boise, I decided it was time to learn to swim. As an adult it’s not the easiest thing to sign up for swim lessons. But I put my ego aside & committed.
I started with learning how to put my head underwater & blow bubbles. And now I’m able to float on my back & move by kicking. I practice at least 3-5 times between lessons & I think I’ve made great progress! I am now much more confident in the water & I believe that, with time & patience, I will become a decent swimmer!”
If you’re interested in learning to swim, click here.