Fear

What are you telling yourself that you can't do? Going back to the previous topics reminded me of some of the things in life that I have feared. In the past, my anxiety levels would sharply increase when I found myself near bodies of water. With no previous swimming instruction, I lacked the confidence to get into deep waters.

In the past, I talked about not having evidence to support some of my constraints, but that is not the case when it comes to swimming. I had my first swimming experience when I visited Vermont as a child. Thinking that I could swim, I jumped into the pool and struggled to tread water, prompting my rescue. Events similar to this would transpire two more times during my childhood, leading to a fear of drowning.

Does fear have to last forever?

It seemed as if this fear had to endure. In my mind, this fear is what was keeping me alive because it caused me to be cautious near bodies of water. After considering the hazards associated with deep waters, I realized that something makes swimming different. My children aided in my realization that swimming is an ability that is taught and learned.

I'm aware that what my children do mirrors the words and actions that I teach them. It took longer for me to learn that they recognize, absorb, and imitate our body language. I now fretted that I would pass my fears along to my children. This feeling taught me that we must be mindful of our negative thinking because these thoughts can seep out and influence our children's path. Taking action would be the only way to move forward.

After seeing an old neighbor teaching children how to swim, I became determined to swim. My fear now had an expiration date. Before continuing towards instruction, I discarded embarrassment and my ego from the equation. That summer, I signed my youngest child up for swimming lessons and committed to learning alongside her.