I Love Swimming… From the Sidelines (For Now)

Sometimes in our lives, we suddenly start thinking about the skills we do not have, especially the ones that could save us one day. Swimming is one of those skills for me. It’s funny how something so common for others can feel like a distant dream for some of us. Well, I believe I am still among the 20% that haven't tried swimming, and I don't think I should be ashamed of that.

I remember the day our big sister came to share the news that she could swim better now because she’d gone for the training while in Lagos before she went abroad. “Go and learn how to swim,” she said that day, trying to encourage us for defensive purposes. She highlighted the benefits of swimming, especially when we find ourselves in such a situation where we are drowning and need to save ourselves.

As much as I love watching people swim and wish to try it someday, I don’t think I could handle it. I don’t know how to swim yet, and if I ever need to survive the ordeal, it’s only God that will save me that day because I wouldn’t be able to.

I fear water a lot! Even when bathing, I am always careful not to let water get into my nostrils or ears because I know how inconvenient that could be, not to mention swimming in a large pool of water. I actually love how people spread their legs and use their hands to swim through; it’s always fun to watch, as I did while my sister enjoyed the pool with her instructor.

I believe there is no age limit for swimming, and I would definitely try it someday, but for now, let me keep fantasising about it until it becomes a reality. I sure would enjoy it that day, knowing how I have wanted to swim, and then it’s happening.

I can’t really say what has been stopping me all these years; maybe it’s because I didn’t take it seriously, and, as most of you have read in my past blogs, I am more of an inside person than an outside person. I don’t like going out like that because I love my space indoors. Or should I also say I didn’t have people around me to lure or pull me to try it out?

The last time we visited the Owu waterfall in my hometown was more than 10 years ago. We visited the beautiful waterfall, and I couldn’t enter the water for some minutes until I was encouraged to get in and enjoy it more than just sitting on the rock. I really enjoyed it when I got into the water and we started splashing water onto our bodies, some swimming in it, and all I could do was stand in the water and watch.

I don’t know how to lie in it or move around in it. But it was just more fun then. Seeing much water is like a hard one for me because I would have imagined lots of weird things, like being drowned and getting someone to save me as I scream for help. But the truth is, I would love to swim one day, and until then, let me keep sitting while waiting. When it happens, the whole world will know Princess swam, swum or swim 😂 (whichever one fits my excitement that day!)

_{Images are mine}