Pool Days and Persistence

This summer, I’ve been swimming laps at my community pool — a throwback to my childhood when I took Red Cross lessons in camp, trained to be a lifeguard, and joined the high school swim team. At first, I didn’t enjoy swimming 25 meters back and forth. It was so boring and lonely; I got tired; my body ached; I finished out of breath. But then I started telling myself I loved it. I found things to love about laps — feeling the cool water on my hair, thinking about experiences I wanted, boys I liked, all the while improving my strokes and my stamina. Swim teachers complimented my strokes. I was encouraged to continue — now, I’m so glad I stuck with it.

When I dipped back in this summer, it felt like coming home. The freedom of propelling myself forward through different strokes — freestyle, breaststroke, sidestroke, overarm sidestroke, and backstrokes — was like a long hug waiting for me. I particularly embrace the elementary backstroke; I always have. Arching my back, floating, gliding through the water, and gazing up at the endless sky buoy me to such transcendence. Everything seems possible. A couple of months ago, I started doing 10 laps of various strokes; now I’m up to 36. I marvel at what can be accomplished through love and persistence.

I will miss these pool days after Labor Day, but I plan to carry this newfound joy into fresh endeavors.