"I'd always been terrified of water, but I was absolutely sick to death of being the only one on the beach, roasting like a chicken and missing out on all the fun."
Shelagh is 49 years old, and teaches adults. Her interests are reading, listening to music, visiting the theatre, socialising and dining out with friends.
I decided to tell my story as I hope to encourage the people of my generation who cannot swim, and who are terrified of water, to enrol on an intensive week long swimming course where there is a 1:4 instructor/ learner ratio because it really does work. I am living proof that it is never too late to conquer a life long fear.
Inside Lives was a really unusual and enjoyable experience which I came upon by accident. I would recommend it to anyone because it has introduced me to such a variety of people, new skills such as writing for sound rather than for reading, and this has given me the courage to take this further and join a local writer's workshop.
I walked into the changing rooms. I had my swimming bag with me. I had all the right kit. I had the T-back Speedo costume, the swimming cap, the goggles. I put it all on and looked at myself and I thought 'Oh, Lord'. I was 48 and I hadn't had a swimming costume on since I was about 6. I looked like an overgrown baby with a bald head and wrinkly skin, but I put that aside, took a deep breath and walked out of the changing rooms.
People'll think I'm a synchronised swimmer when I walk in in this get up, I thought. But I wasn't. I was there for my first swimming lesson in 48 years. I'd always been terrified of water, but I was absolutely sick to death of being the only one on the beach, roasting like a chicken and missing out on all the fun. I didn't have high hopes of actually learning to swim--I'd have been happy just to get over the fear of water. The swimming pool stretched ahead, one length looking to me like about 10 miles. I did a quick checklist of safety equipment: rubber rings, yup, scary hooks, yup, lifeguard.... And then I saw him. He had the most beautiful body I'd ever seen. As this Adonis walked towards me I thought, 'oh Lord, how's this kid going to teach me to swim'. I got into the water and it was fine, but when he told me to put my face under the water I lost it. I created a tidal wave of fear and panic. Adonis said you're alright, you're alright and gave me a nose clip. All hopes of romance went out of the window. When I dipped below the water with the nose clip I was absolutely fine. I thought 'oooh this is quite pleasant'. So I went very reluctantly with him to the deep end. And he suddenly made me realise that with all that water beneath me there was no way I could drown. I took off and I was like a little porpoise. At the end of the week I swam a length. |
