What Learning to Freestyle Swim Taught Me About Patience and Personal Growth

When was the last time you learned something new, just for you? For me, it was last year: I finally learned to freestyle swim.

The journey began after a friend's ocean swimming course inspired me to conquer a challenge that had nagged at me for years. While I've always been drawn to the water and loved swimming, not mastering the most effective stroke felt like a persistent inadequacy. Growing up in Europe, we typically learn breaststroke first; freestyle often isn't taught unless you swim competitively. This skill gap always annoyed me.

I enrolled in an adult swim course, and the first few months were a battle. My progress was slow, and endurance was a constant struggle. The “hyper-achiever” in me would get stressed every time I couldn't finish a lap, watching others glide effortlessly.

Then, during a recent practice, something magical happened. I felt pure joy, weightless and at ease. I swam longer than ever without getting tired. The breakthrough wasn't about hitting a specific number of laps; it was about granting myself permission to rest, to savor the intervals, and simply be present. I even recall smiling at my shadow on the pool floor.

Today, I can swim 300 yards freestyle. That's about 30% of my swim workout, and I'm continuously working to add more. The real lesson wasn't just in mastering the stroke, but in learning to embrace the process and cultivate patience with myself - a far harder challenge than the physical act of swimming itself.

So, here's my challenge: Learn something new and enjoy the journey!