In a conversation with Lani last week, I was talking about my past experiences as a lifeguard and swim instructor...back when I was in shape! I had a lot of great experiences working teaching children how to swim and listening to stories from the older adults as they wade through the shallow end or float around in the hot tub but one situation in particular has stuck with me for over 10 years and reminds me that anything is possible.
As a swim instructor the hardest classes to teach in my opinion are adult lessons. For one, as adults, we have already developed a pre-disposed fear of something...fear of trying something new, fear of disappointment, fear of something bad happening...and of course the list goes on. I was the only one on a staff of about 10 that taught these classes because of the patience it involved. The other instructors wanted to be able to show drastic progress among students in just 6 weeks, with the exception of a few that needed to repeat the class. Sure, that's great but not always realistic. I know that not everyone will be on the same pace nor will everyone be able to advance to the next level after such a short period of time.
One day I enrolled a new student...a 65 year old woman who was checking off items on her bucket list. The day she walked into our gym she told me that she was a widow, her children were well into adulthood, and her grandchildren were now self-sufficient. Feeling that she was not needed as much by those who loved her, she decided it was time to live for herself. She went back to school to attain not only her Bachelor's but also her Master's and once that was complete, it was on to swimming. I explained to her that we would start with water acclimation. Adjusting and getting comfortable being in and around water would be the first step or you will sink like a brick. She found it funny but as soon as it happened, she laughed and realized I was serious. She completed multiple sessions with me over the next several months. While I would provide her with instruction, she would share life stories, ask about my family, and give me great advice. If she never learned how to swim, those hour sessions were some of the best I had in the 10+ years I taught. One day not long after our sessions ended, she came in to swim. I was working the front desk and looked through our glassed in area to see her swimming...not just wading or doggie paddling but full out swimming laps in Freestyle. I stood there watching and cried. I felt so overwhelmed with emotion not only because I did that but because she was able to check off her bucket list.
I feel more comfortable in the water that is the Worx. My form is improving and I push harder through the pain and discomfort. Fear of failure left me after my first few sessions due to the constant sense of support by those around me, especially my coaches. I learned to let go, relax, and take each class as best I can, inching further out of my comfort zone each week. I can do this and it will take some time. I may have to go through 5 Journey's to get to my goal but patience is a virtue. The patience I exude with others I have to exude with myself as I can be my toughest critic. Sure, I've had some inconsistencies this time around but it is not going to bring me to an all stop.
Remembering the OH YEA moments, like retiring a pair of workout pants to pajamas because they became too big, continued motivation by fellow journeyers (especially Danielle with her multiple workouts a day), and feeling better about myself are constant reminders that it is possible to reach my goal.
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