Question:  Why, when we decide to learn something new, do we ALWAYS assume that it’ll be a quick process?  Me included!!  A few years ago, I started voice lessons with the idea that I’d be singing like a rock star in a few weeks.  Of course, the reality is that we must accept the slow road to learning.

Answer:  Hubris?  Naiveté?  Optimism?  Impatience?  All of these?

The tricky thing is that, in our rush to learn, we actually slow the process down.  In our drive to “get it”, we often miss critical details that would help us “get it” faster.  In other words…the fastest way to learn something is to slow down.  Ummm…haven’t you heard me say this a million times before?!!

Denise McClure figured this concept out.  Once she realized that learning efficient swim technique takes a bit longer, she reframed it as a positive – it’s now a challenge & a chance to continue her learning.  Way to go, Denise!

In Denise’s own words:

“In college a friend talked me into taking a swim class.  Having never been a lap swimmer I expended more energy that semester avoiding the pool than I actually spent swimming!  Amazingly I survived the final (which was based on a continuous 50-min swim) & realized that lap swimming was kind of fun.  I’m now pushing 70yrs old & have been swimming laps ever since.

Because of my extensive swimming background, I thought that signing up for some technique lessons would be easy-peasy.  I thought Coach Michelle would tweak my stroke a bit & I would be on my way tearing up the water & setting old lady speed records.  🤣 🤣 🤣  Well…it’s been 6 mo’s; I’m still doing drills & trying to integrate these new stroke mechanics.

I considered quitting because I felt I was making little to no progress.  But I LOVE swimming & I really, really, really do want to swim like that guy in the Youtube video – smooth, buoyant & relaxed.

I took a week off from swimming to think.  Then I decided to go once more to the pool to see how I felt.  Although my technique was a bit wobbly (due to the week off), I realized I had actually learned a lot.  I also realized that I really, really, really do have the potential to swim like the YouTube guy!

So, I persist with my journey knowing I might not set any old lady speed records (yet!), but fully convinced I can conquer efficient, effortless swimming in my lifetime.  And who knows…maybe I’ll attempt the other strokes & flip turns too!”

For more info on coaching, click here.  For info on adult swim lessons, click here.