Picture this: A land-dwelling creature (Me) with lungs that occasionally protest. And then there’s water, the mysterious, liquid abyss that I have never understood, always seeming like it’s waiting to swallow me.

Back in 2019, I decided to create a bucket list. List of – things that I wanted to do, things that I thought will give me a reason to look forward to the future, things that drifted me from the thoughts of existential crisis. My list had everything from “Seeing Fireflies” to “Travelling to Barcelona”.

But nestled among those wishes was the granddaddy of them all: swimming. Yep, the art of propelling oneself through water without looking like a flailing walrus. For someone who feels like getting choked on a shower, this was a daring move.

But then, one night, I had a dream. Not the usual “I got chased by a dinosaur” dream, but a magical one. I floated weightless and swimmed fearlessly inside a liquid universe. It was like the water whispered secrets to me: “You belong here. You’re part mermaid, part awkward penguin.”

The Quest Begins:

Armed with determination and curiosity, I decided to embark on my swimming adventure. To be honest, I was planning to go for gym. But then… I wanted chlorine-scented enlightenment.

I scouted swimming classes. One of the academies side-eyed my lung issue like it is illegal. And they went like – “Doctor’s certificate, please.” I felt like a fugitive from a medical drama.

The other place? They welcomed me like a lost sailor. No questions asked. Just a nod. Coughed up some bucks to pay for the class and to suit up. And yes, I took my next move… going for 1st day of class when chaotic thoughts were running wild…

Dream vs. Reality:

Dream: Gliding through azure waters, sunlight dappling my skin, conquering sea…

Reality: Standing at the edge of the pool, clad in a swimsuit made me question my life choices. The water looked less like a serene oasis and more like a conspiracy against my survival.

The What-Ifs:

What if I sank like a stone? Will they able to notice that I am missing? Cause I am barely visible even in land.

What if I accidentally swallowed the pool water? Would I turn into a human water balloon?

Splash, Flail, Repeat:

My first lesson involved more flailing than swimming. I resembled a drenched scarecrow. But hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was Michael Phelps.

I learned to breathe underwater without inhaling half the pool. Progress!

It took 5 min to learn flapping the legs, it took 3 days to master the hands.

And then suddenly, next session comes, everything gets back to square 1 – fear to start. Everyday is not the same.

Life Lessons from someone who hardly learnt just to move in water:

Embrace Fear: Water is like Life—terrifying, unpredictable, and occasionally up your nose. But we dive in anyway.

Float Like a Boss: Sometimes, you just have to let go and trust the buoyancy of existence. It’s like life’s saying, “Relax, darling. I gotchu.”

Chlorine Is My Spirit Animal: Seriously, it’s like a spa for my soul. 

I emerge from the pool feeling reborn, chlorine-kissed and ready to conquer the world.

The Real Accomplishment:

It’s not about medals or Olympic glory. It’s about feeling alive. Swimming makes me feel like a sparkler on New Year’s Eve—brief, brilliant, and part of something bigger.

Here’s to the unlikely swimmers, the aquatic dreamers, and the chlorine enthusiasts.

Edited By: @DarkKnight . Happy to introduce @DarkKnight, my friend to you all. He will be supporting A Solivagant’s Shoes as an Editor!