Growing up, I never had the chance or opportunity to learn how to swim and for this I can't swim. My parents never took it as a priority to teach us it take us to swimming centres to learn how to swim. Some of my siblings know how to swim and that's because the schools they attended took their time to teach them some basic things.
Swimming is not just for fun, it's also an exercise, it can help to relax the muscles and strengthens different parts of the body because of the techniques required when swimming.
If I found myself in middle of the ocean and I had to swim to safety, I'll definitely remain there because I don't know how to swim, I enjoy watching people swim and it pains me that I don't know how to swim. I can move my hands and feet but that doesn't mean I can swim. I have been to the pool with friends but I just went for fun, I entered the water and stayed very close to where my hands and feet could hold onto something and my feel the ground against my feet.
Few years ago I went to visit my husband's family member who lived in riverine area of ondo state. On the day we were meant to return, we had two options as means of transport, we had to either take the speed boat or take the car. My husband asked me and I said we should take speed boat, mind you, I don't know how to swim and I had a little baby then, but I wanted to know how it felt to entered boat so I put the feeling aside and entered. It was a nice experience and I had a safe trip back home.
Now I can't even think of taking such risk, because what if something happened on that day, how would I swim with my baby. I wasn't thinking straight that day, but after that day I knew swimming was important but I haven't had the time to learn it.
Now, I would love to learn how to swim but I don't have the time and I don't know any instructor or swimming centres around. If it was when I was younger, I would have learnt it faster and easier without stress, but now a lot responsibilities, work and family. There is always something to keep my busy and swimming have been pushed aside.
I would really love to learn how to swim now but, no time. My days are always filled up, I'm always busy and I don't know any place I can go to learn. Sometimes when I go through my phone and I see people swimming, I just wish there is a safe place where I can go to learn how to swim at my own pace without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
Swimming is as important as anything we know. It's not just for fun but a life skill, it can save you when you least expect it. I don't know how to swim but I believe it's not too late to learn.
Those that can swim, I really admire you and I know you don't take it for granted, or do you? I know I'm not the only one on this green earth that don't know how to swim and to those of us that don't know, it's certainly okay to feel nervous and I hope that someday we will eventually learn it if we put our minds to it.
Swimming is not just a sport. It’s a way to feel free, strong, and safe. I hope one day I get to feel that.
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