You Call That Swimming?

At 1st it all sounded so easy...NOW, it's getting easier...

BUT, the in between was quite interesting to say the least...

I'm talking about learning to swim - CORRECTLY.

It sounded like such an easy thing when it was first talked about.  "Hey.  Let's take swimming lessons and learn how to really swim - the right way, I mean."

The 1st class, 1st moment went like this: "OK, Bob, show me how you swim."  It all changed from that point on.

From that point on, it was quite a task...learning to swim - correctly.

Here are some of those moments - learning to swim correctly.

"Bob, get out of the pool, just sit there for me.  WOW, is that really as far as you can straighten your feet?"

"Bob, your kicks are like from the knees - only."  "Bob, that's not really kicking, it's pedaling a bike in the water."  "Bob, can't you pull harder than that with your arms?"  "Bob, are you breathing at all?"  "Bob, are you drinking pool water every time you take a breath?"  "Bob, that's not bad, considering where you started."  "Bob, you're supposed to swim on top of the water, not 2" under the surface."  "Bob, just try this stroke, because you're not going to be able to do the other one (like everyone else does & is doing)."

Well.  Suffice it say - the learning curve of "learning to swim right" has been quite interesting for Bob.

I started the class thinking I could swim OK.  Apparently what I was doing was more like sloshing.

As she (Elizabeth - the greatest swim instructor I have ever had as an adult) handed me (& Shawn) more to think about, that's all I could do - think...and simultaneously sink.  Oh yea, another "Bob" comment.  "Bob, you don't float very well."  Yup - can't even float right...thought I could before though.  Dangit.

Anyway.

It happened.

"It will all come together - Bob."  And it did.  Just like Elizabeth (say it with the dialect that guy, Troy, on Swamp people says it.  Elidabet) said it would.

Swimming versus sloshing.  Actually moving in the right direction of the pool.  Yes, moving!  Crazy.

Anyway.  Here's my point.

Sometimes, when we decide to get "better" at something, or try something new, it gets harder & even worse before it gets better.  Part of it is "unlearning" before "learning".  Then it's correcting the old.  Or, it's just something new...therefore, it has to be learned, just like addition or the alphabet.

BUT, stay with it.  Once all the pieces come together - it all makes sense.

1+1=2 and A starts the alphabet and Z ends it.

Don't quit in the sloshing stage...press on to the swimming...it's a lot of fun.

Even, in life, sometimes all we can see are the parts.  The parts don't always make sense on their own...but once you see the bigger picture, the pieces normally make sense as well.

peace

b