Where My Fears Drowned and I Began to Float

There are two types of people in this world—those who gracefully glide through life like Olympic swimmers, and those who stand at the edge of the pool, calculating how much water their splash will displace. I belonged to the latter category… until one glorious cannonball moment changed it all.

It all began in 2023. A swimming coach appeared in our apartment complex like a Netflix character dropped into a sitcom: confident, skilled, and surrounded by a bunch of excited kids flapping like penguins. Watching those little ones float and glide ignited something in me—a flicker of an old wish, long buried under daily routines and self-doubt.

“I always wanted to learn swimming,” I whispered to my inner child, who looked at me with folded arms and said, “So what’s stopping you, Ms. Excuse Factory?”

Let me be honest—I was not just afraid of water. I was afraid of the stares, the side-eyes, the silent judgments that often haunt the poolside like chlorine-scented ghosts. Being a bit on the chubby side, I feared I’d be swimming through waves of body-shaming more than water.

But here’s where my real-life superhero stepped in—my mom. With the wisdom of a sage and the bluntness of a YouTube ad, she said, “Either you swim through your fears or sink in them.”

That hit hard.

The next morning, I didn’t overthink. I wrapped myself in courage (and a big towel) and marched to the pool. My first splash was less “Baywatch” and more “baby walrus discovering its flippers,” but oh, the joy! Within four days, I was gliding in the 6-feet-deep section like I’d been doing this for years.

It wasn’t just about swimming. It was about reclaiming myself.

They say, “Ships are safest in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” Turns out, the same applies to people.

I didn’t just learn to float—I learned to let go. Of shame. Of fear. Of the imaginary scoreboard in people’s eyes. And believe it or not, the pool became my therapy spot. No sweat, no stress, just strokes of freedom.

Now, swimming is my sanctuary. It’s joyful, relaxing, and best of all—sweat-free. And the best part? Those who were watching? They were too busy cheering for their own dives into the unknown.

Sometimes, risks don’t come with dramatic soundtracks or slow-motion montages. Sometimes, they look like a chubby woman in a floral swimsuit, grinning ear to ear because she finally did something just for herself.

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s the quiet voice that says, ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher

Thought to Ponder:
What if the very thing you’re scared of is holding the key to the most fun, freeing, and fulfilling version of you? Would you still choose the shore—or dare a little splash?

Because darling, you were never meant to wade. You were made to swim.