13 Reasons I Went from Swimming 0 to 26 laps in 12 Months: From Phobic to Addict
My swimming journey began innocuously at age ten, then resulted in fear that kept me paralyzed for 38 years. A year later, I am addicted to swimming, and cannot wait to get to the pool.
What made the difference?
- First , it was necessity. Injuries made it clear I had to swim to stay fit. I could not carry on with Zumba and other exercises that had impact on my knees. Thanks, netball, running, and twenty years of salsa dancing 🙁
- Then, I had family support. My parents got into the pool with me to encourage me. I am so grateful for them. My friend Emily, who is a powerhouse open-water swimmer, started looking at my swimming videos and encouraging me with tips.
- Determination. I was very keen to stay active. Exercise is important to me, so once I overcame the fear of actually getting into the pool, I kept going.
- Steady progress. I started to watch YouTube content on swimming technique, and slowly practicing so that I could learn to be a technically correct swimmer. Technique matters greatly, and soon I was able to swim laps because I was doing it more correctly. Side breathing is still a challenge, but I work on it steadily, and I am getting better.
- Non-judgment. I didn’t judge all my mistakes, but learned from them. I didn’t judge my speed or slow progress; I knew it was my journey and I would show up for it for each and every swim. Some were amazing, and some were terrible.
- Long-term focus and persistence. I knew I was in this for the long-haul, so I didn’t sweat it on a hard day. I showed up again and again.
- Equipment. I learned about the necessary equipment from friends and fellow swimmers, and slowly acquired what I needed: front snorkels, fins, goggles, nose clip, paddles, and the best of all: pull buoy. I use them diligently and my body is becoming stronger and my technique better every week.
- I focused on distance, not speed. I am not interested in racing; I want to be healthy. So, I focused on slowly increasing my distance. From 500m to 800m, to 1km, and now 1.3km. I now swim 1km early mornings on weekdays, and 1.3 km on Sundays.
- Identity. I consciously changed my identity from a person who is afraid of drowning, to a person who swims. Now, I feel the call of the pool daily. A day when I do not swim (yes, I take rest days) feels like a year. The pool is my friend, my refuge, and the site of my moving meditation that fuels my mind and body.
- Healing. I maintain visits to my physical therapist, who is wonderful. She reminds me that none of my ailments are from swimming, they are from sitting. The verdict: keep swimming, and be more active!
- Self-care. I am kind to my body and aware of how sleep affects my swimming. I give myself grace, and in the long run, I am always eager to get back to the pool, whether it’s for a short recovery swim, or a nice long one.
- Flexibility. I actually prioritize swimming – it’s the first thing I do, and everything else in my day is better because I swim. I am more focused with work, and happier once I’ve had my fix, so I fit in work around my swim schedule, ha!
- Vision – I know I want to slowly increase my distance, but not until I am comfortable with where I am now. It’s my journey, and I am not pushing or forcing, but gliding. Life is about flow, and I’ve found a way to mimic that when I work out.
So, this is how I went from zero to 26 laps in 12 months. And, I will keep going because I love it so much.
Share with me your journey of overcoming fear. It is life-changing, and precious to see the world beyond the confines of fear!
