Do you also like those little things that are there to make your life "easier"? It seems insignificant, and you can certainly live and have activities without those little details, but still, I could already try it today and feel the difference. It is about a tiny item I bought for myself yesterday - swimming goggles!
Yes, yes, I know. It seems really not worth mentioning, but the difference was noticeable while I was swimming in the sea this morning. Maybe the calmness of the sea also contributed to my happiness and the ease and speed of swimming because we had really wonderful weather and the sea was like a mirror early in the morning. Later, the wind started to blow a little, but nothing significant; if I hadn't had to go home because I had some classes in the afternoon, I would still be there in the sea!
Indeed, I got out of the water very little; once when I was hungry and another time to take a nap in the shade of our parasol for about ten minutes. And when we were supposed to leave, of course.
The sand was so hot that even seagulls would not walk on the surface of the sand at noon. They left their footprints early in the morning, and afterwards, I believe they used their wings as a means of transport. And I, during summer I wouldn't want wings or feet if I could choose. My place is in the water. 😁
I learned to swim as a child in the Adriatic Sea. My uncle was an athlete (handball coach), and he was actually the one who taught me to swim when I was around six years old. I even have some pictures from that era, I mean, a little girl's head can be seen from the water. 😂 That's all, that was me.
The following school year, we had an organised swimming course with the school. For two weeks, we went every day by bus to a neighbouring town where they had a sports centre with indoor pools, suitable for swimming courses. We went with the whole class. I don't remember if it was compulsory or not, but we all went. I already knew how to swim then, but it was good to improve and remember the rules of swimming and technique. It wasn't as much fun as swimming in the sea and being with family, though.
And what about you? When did you learn to swim and where? Who was the person who taught you to swim, and did you like it, or maybe you were scared or uncomfortable? If you like to talk about it, feel free to use this community Summer Vibes to write about your adventure of learning to swim. 🏊 🌊
As a child, who lived in the SFRJ, although in a working-class family, my parents had the opportunity to take me to the sea every year, until I started elementary school (Adriatic, the same one you stayed at 🙂).
Neither my father nor my mother were swimmers, and in salty sea water they only taught me how to stay on the surface, according to the "floating" principle 🙂.
When I started school, we had organized lessons, where I learned how to swim through water with a floating board. It was hard for me.
And then, when I was about 11 or 12 years old, when I went to the pool with my older brother, one of his peers pushed me into the deep pool.
Well, that day I learned to swim 😃
Later, in my teenage days, I often played waterpolo, and as a young man every summer I even swam the Ada several times a day or swam in the Danube from the Big war island to the Dorćol marina.
We had similar childhoods, at least in terms of going every summer to the Adriatic seashore, those were nice years of our childhood, well, until the war started. That uncle had a house there...
Oh, that was a
brutalsurprising way to learn to swim! 😵 But luckily it worked for you as you survived haha and became a great swimmer! I also like the Danube; we grew up by going to the places (you also saw last year) on bikes year by year. Hmm, it seems no Danube for us this summer.Thank you for your comment, nisam stigla ranije da odgovorim, gospodja glavobolja je u poseti od juce uvece i nikako da prodje.
Opušteno, nema šta da se izvinjavaš.
Samo da glavobolja prođe 🙏
Biće Dunav tu i dogodine, a za plivanje imaš more u blizini (i nove naočare 🙂).
We used to have swimming classes in school , it started when i was4 years old i think . I grew up in Amsterdam and with all those canals throughout the city kids had swimming classes every week . they even handed out certificates back then not sure if i can find mine back or if ithrew them away in one of those times we moved from place to place. But even before those swimming classes we use to play at the beach in the weekends or on vacation in IJmuiden .
It is great that children have swimming classes at that age already. Here in Spain too, even when kids are younger, but it was not so popular back in time in our country. Usually, the parents used to teach their children to swim or in swimming courses however at the age of seven or eight.
Oh, that makes me remember my son had some swimming certificates, he even went to swimming every week for some years, they even had waterpolo, but in the end he didn't like it that much later so he stopped. Actually, I am a bit sorry he didn't like it anymore and quit, as I think it is important for the body, posture, and muscles.
What a lovely story!!!
The truth is, I can’t swim. I lived in a town without a beach for 40 years, and although there was a river nearby, my grandmother and my mum couldn’t swim, and Mum hates water, she’s absolutely terrified of it… so I’m the only one in my family who likes the sea. The only person who could have taught me was my grandfather, who loved the sea, but he passed away when I was seven.
My friend Claudia taught me how to float remotely… and that’s all I know. I hope to learn one day, but it’ll have to be from someone I know well and trust.
You came to my mind when I was writing the post, as I remember you don't swim, but somehow I have the hopes you will learn one day, now when you live by the seashore. I also know this summer is not possible as you are taking care of your mom (I hope her pressure is getting better... 🤞) but there are also swimming courses in pools over the whole year.
My first neighbour is a swimming coach... so I am also thinking after summer, when the weather is not anymore suiteble for our beach excursions, to enrol and go to lessons. But from September, I will be back on my super busy schedules so I don't know when I would do that! 😂 Anyway, I do hope you learn to swim one day! 😊
I have absolutely no doubt that I’ll get better. This year has been tough; I haven’t yet been able to go and sunbathe as I like to, or go for a swim. My blood pressure is stable, but they’re now taking me off the tranquilliser to see what my blood pressure really is and adjust my medication accordingly. I’ve got 15 difficult days ahead of me. Thank you!!🤗
I wish they pass quickly and things improve just to the best! 😇
Gracias!!!!💗
I learned to swim at the local YMCA. Mostly self taught by watching others. Never took formal swim lessons. I really learned to swim like a fish when I entered the military service and was in a unit that spent a lot of time in the ocean. I became very comfortable in the water and still am for the most part.
Self-taught is also great, after all you are the one who feels the best what to do to not to finish under the water. 😁 Of course, with some basic techniques that you later improved and became a confident swimmer during your military service. Thank you for your comment @coinjoe , I enjoyed reading the different experiences people had while learning to swim!
Oh this looks beautiful. May you enjoy many such summer outings, my friend :) It seems to me I've always known how to swim. My mom loves to swim, so I think she taught me when I was a toddler. If I have a choice, it's the waves for me too, and not the shore :D
Thank you :) We lived two streets from the seashore for 12 years haha, and now that we are at 35-40 minutes by car from the sea, it seems we go more often to the beach to swim and sunbathe 😆
That's cool that your mom taught you at that early age; it is actually the most natural thing if we have the opportunity to teach our little ones to swim when they are that small. We did the same with our son, even though he later went to proper swimming lessons for some years.
Great post! I have recently returned to swimming and highly recommend the book Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin. His ideas on efficiency and being “fish like” really resonate with me.
Oh, thank you for the suggestion. I have downloaded the book for free now haha, although I found it in Spanish. I guess it also helps with different aspects of life, being efficient, through swimming. Will have a read, thanks again for the recommendation.
And it's great that you are back to swimming. It is a great alternative to other sports activities if we can't practice them for various reasons; also, swimming provides the lowest probability of injuries. 👌
You’re welcome, I hope you find the book useful. I can‘t run right now which was always my sport but swimming accepts me as I am physically!
I learned to "swim" at such an early age that I didn't even notice. That means, when we vacationed by the Balaton lake or went to a nearby pool in Gyula, my family would teach me how to move in the water: floating, treading water, dogpaddle, and a combination of them. I was five when I first learned how to swim properly in a swimming course with other kids, which would continue throughout school. However, I didn't get to experience swimming in the sea until I was 12. And even then, it was the Adria. (Sorry, I don't mean to downplay it, but the waves there are really modest.) These days I really love the ocean. Especially the Pacific with its huge waves is super fun to go into. I don't surf, but I really enjoy moving with, or against the ocean currents.
I am glad you had this experience!! That is a natural way to learn to swim, in family circles while on vacation to Balaton, or the sea, the river, lakes or else; everybody should have learned in this way. And anything counts, even a bathtub too (hahaha, this last maybe a bit difficult to call it swimming 😂).
I prefer the calm sea, but I know it is also an experience to move with the big waves. Here, lifeguards (in the beaches where there are lifeguards) put a red flag when the waves are big; the entry to the water is not allowed. And you can even pay a fine if you disobey. 😅
Oh yes, I know the red flags very well. Though here they don't fine you if you disobey them. They just remind you that you may be paying with your life. Since I know how strong the ocean can be, even with a yellow, or even a green flag, I know to respect it.
I failed swimming class when I was a kid. I wouldn't jump off the diving board, so they didn't let me move on.
Oh no hahaha. The jumps are not my favourites either 😆
I learnt swimming quite later in life at a swimming course. I'm still not very good at it though.
Practice makes perfect, regardless of when we start doing something 😉