How many of you can you Smim?
By mzbubblie
@mzbubblie (3839)
United States
March 18, 2007 10:46am CST
Ok, I will start off by saying, I can't swim at all..lol I have found just generally speaking with people throughout time, there are alot of people who honestly can't swim.
This year I decided I'm going to take swimming classes. For one, I really want to go on a cruise, however, I don't like the idea of being surrounded by nothing but water. A little fear of mine...lol...So I decided babysteps, first take professional swimming classes to learn how to swim.
I will get in a pool, however, I won't go in any deep water that's comes past my neck... and nope I can't float either(now don't be laughing at me... :)
So today's question, Who knows how to swim? how long have you been swimming? How often do you swim? Who out there is like me, don't know how to swim worth anything? Can you float?
16 people like this
77 responses
@ragemdw (78)
• United States
18 Mar 07
I can definitely swim. Most would consider me an expert swimmer. I swam competitively at a DIII college though I was not that competitive. I havent actually swam in a few years though its like riding a bike. You never really forget. I learned to swim when i was 5. I started swimming for a team when I was 7. Its a great skill today and makes me feel a lot safer in a pool or in open water.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Yes, I agree, Because right now, I don't do much in a pool unless I know there is no way of it getting deeper or not so high.
I want to enjoy the pool like alot of people do. Hopefully this year will be my year
@iamcrazy (32)
• India
19 Mar 07
I started swimming when i was 6 , There was a river very near to my house, so every summer , my father , my brother , his friends , their fathers all used to go to river to swim and to take bath, Twice i almost drowned when i was kid , Once my father and once my cousin saved me . But still i looooooooooove water and swimming. It has been a passion since i first went to river and jumped into it, i have swam in river , sea , pool , lake even in a well. Its simply great . I don't swim for any particular reason ,i just love doing it.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
18 Mar 07
Ah ah, good one! At least that's a first step towards taking a cruise. :P
I can swim for years already. I seldom swim though.. the pools are always too crowded and they seem to be often blocking off lanes for competitive training. What the heck man..
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Ahh that's no fun. Yes, I figured this would be the first approach to that cruise I want to take..hehehe
Well Make em open up more places to swim, do you like the beach? or is a beach near you?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 Mar 07
It always has to be "an event" if I want to go swimming. A bit of a hassle so I stopped. I used to take the trouble because I wanted to get a nice tan. But I don't do that anymore since it causes premature aging and possible skin diseases.
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
19 Mar 07
I Love to swim. I am a pool person not an Ocean person. I spent many summers in my younger years being a life guard at the local Plunge. Now I swim every chance I get and yes I float very well. It's so relaxing to me to swim a few laps then just float and let your mind just wander and day dream. It's great exercise and so refreshing after a hard day.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
19 Mar 07
Yes, I want to be just where you are, relaxed and able to float and let my mind go in the water, Right now I'm so busy hoping I don't drown..lol
@primecrimson (1388)
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
I know how to swim since I was 10 years old. I used to practice swimming with my friends in a nearby mini waterfall. All my brothers know how to swim and we learn swimming together with the supervision of our old pal.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Oh that's very cool. Hopefully after my swimming lessons, I can truly enjoy being in a pool..lol...Right now, I rather just sit on the beach or on the side a pool..haha
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
18 Mar 07
I have been a swimmer since I was 8 years old. Dad bought a huge aboveground pool for us. Back then the swimming pool was just for fun, playing games like pool basketball, pool volleyball and Marco Polo...a kind of hide and seek game where one person is it, has to close their eyes, go under water, count to ten, then come back up with their eyes closed and try to tag another player. You really had to know how to swim underwater, as it is quieter, to get away from the person that is it.
Now I use a pool for exercise. It is very good and it isn't as hard on the body. Sometimes I do have races with my nephews. Of course, I let them win:P.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
that's very cool. I'm going to be able to swim one day..lol..I have faith in myself. Sad I will be 34 years old and can't float to save my own life..lol..
That's very good you know how to swim. I know your nephews have a field day racing you...
@mummyofthree (2715)
•
18 Mar 07
I can swim. I learnt at fourteen years old. My parents never had any inclination to teach me so I taught myself. I can't swim very well and like you I am terrified of deep water. I even hate my head going under the water in the bath. So I haven't been swimming in years.
However I would reccomend learning if you possibly can. The only thing scarier than being surrounded by water is knowing that you don't stand a chance because you can't swim. I know that as long as I don't panic I would be able to swim for around five minutes! Hopefully I would be rescued byy then!
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
hahahaha You know exactly what I mean, If I were surrounded by water and something happened, I would just count the last minutes I have left..lol..
I would panic instantly, also thinking about all the creatures in water, sharks and little biting fish and such, my mind starts to think of all the worst case scenerios..lol
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
18 Mar 07
I can't swim either and i was just talking about this to my kids the other day.I was telling them im thinking about letting them take swimming lessons this summer.I just might join them.They really want to learn so i guess..
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
hahhahaa You can do it, I'm really going to do it...I'm ready though...I know those weeks will be the weeks, I won't get my hair done..hahahha
1 person likes this
@anjalisk2005 (1492)
• India
19 Mar 07
i cant swim..but my hubby taught me to float!!which i love doing.u actually feel so light!!still not good at swiming!!
but i will surely learn in a year or two!1
@shyamj (86)
• India
19 Mar 07
I can,t swim. I m very scare of swimming. I dont think I will be able to swim at this age now. But I have strong will to learn swimming. But I dont know how and where to start.
many pools are not properly filteration plant. and the water is highly poluted.
1 person likes this
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Well, I've learned to swim since I was 5, but it stopped when I was on my grade school. I got a chance to practice it again when I was in high school, and developed some skills also.
I'm not such a strong swimmer, but I know how to survive in case a trouble in the water occurs. I also know how to float, and the best practicing place would be on salt-water. Because there's more buoyancy in it, we can easily float there than in swimming pools
I try to go to the beach every year, and that by each summer. I don't know how many times, but I always enjoy swimming during these season!;)
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Yes, I like the beach also, just don't go very far, plus I think about jelly fish too...lol...I never knew salt water would be better.. You learn something new everyday..
Thank you for sharing
1 person likes this
@hottie0728 (1732)
• United States
19 Mar 07
Honestly...I can't swim...I wish I could since I know that somehow it's necessary especially in case of emergency. I'm a little scared too, I'm not a beach/water lover as well...
@AdFreeLink (88)
• Egypt
19 Mar 07
lol .. i was swim 5hs or more when i catch da sea like i catch a thief and won't let him until i kill him
now i swim 30 min or 1 h all da year
i luv to enjoy da beach now
thx
1 person likes this
@ashhley (29)
• India
19 Mar 07
well dude i love swimming, like you i too didnt knew how to swim till i came across a swimming pool meant for cops and their family i got addmission there through a friend and had introduces me as a cops son... i was hving good time learning to swim there until one particular day i got caught :(
i use to swim once in a week... i hv learnt good enough to swim for atleast 1 lap :)
1 person likes this
@edz3105 (66)
• Philippines
19 Mar 07
I'll give you some advice, swimming was not done only on physical aspect but also on your psychological aspect as well to gain goal. For example, if you're afraid to jump in the water higher than your neck then expect that you'll get drown. You'll float as soon as your mind relaxes and your body will follow. Stop thinking that you can't swim and you'll end up struggling loose in the water on such panic. My point is to relax.
@babyhar (1335)
• Canada
19 Mar 07
Don't worry you are not the only one who doesn't no how to swim either! I took swimming lessons as a kid but didn't really go as far as some of the people I know had. I know if you pass one lesson, you have to continue on to so many levels before you are so called "qualified" as knowing how to swim.
Even though I do not know how to swim.. I have found when I do decide to go in the deep end. What I do to stay up above water level is I will do the doggy paddle. I know some may laugh but it honestly has gotten me out of a lot of situations where I had thought I may end up drowning.
I remember a few years ago how I had gone in the deep end.. And was slowly falling to the bottom & I doggy paddled myself up to the top. I find even though I do not know how to swim. That doggy paddling to the top is just as good & has helped me out a great deal as well.
I am not a big fan of swimming.. I think the reason for this is because.. I remember as a kid I went down a water slide.. And my sibling was supposed to catch me when I reached the bottom.. But instead of catching me they allowed me to go under water for a few minutes.. I honestly thought I was going to drown & die but thank goodness I hadn't. They eventually picked me up from underneath the water in time & we're laughing..
I know that.. After having to go through an experience such as this.. I believe it turned me off from wanting to swim ever again after that.. Or even want to learn to swim as well.. I don't trust going swimming with my sibling either since going through an experience such as this one..
I would still like to learn to swim someday.. But I get self conscious about wearing a swim suit sometimes.. I don't mind having to wear a t-shirt over top of my swim suit but still.. I guess I'd be some-what nervous to learn how to swim all over again.. Since it hadn't turned out all to great when I had tried when I was younger.. But I guess one day I will try to learn all over again.
In conclusion.. I do not know how to swim.. But I would like to learn.. I just feel that due to my experiences that it would be rather difficult for me to trust another to teach me.. And if I was swimming I guess I'd be nervous that if I was drowning or something along those lines that no one would pick me up..
I know I wouldn't want to re-live that experience like I had when I was a kid personally.. But sometimes you have to push yourself to do things.. And I know I push myself quite often.. So I guess learning how to swim would most likely be one of those things that I would love to learn before I die! . .
Thanks for allowing me to share! xx
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Yeah I understand, I'm going to try though this year to learn
@mailboxmoney (1216)
•
20 Mar 07
Hi Thanks for writing back Water's not too bad once you get used to it. It can be very relaxing I love swimming but I get scared in the sea sometimes if it's very rough
@mailboxmoney (1216)
•
18 Mar 07
Hi it's Toya I don't mean to say this but you know what they say about phobias though don't you It's like a premonition and you'll have to face it someday. Maybe you should get a home blow up pool or something and just sit in it and paddle just in case!!!
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
20 Mar 07
I can doggy paddle. I can not swim and if there was a great flood I would be out of luck. I just, as an adult, learned how to doggy paddle. I had a bad experience when I was younger with a woman tricking me into trusting her and then letting me go. I almost drowned, luckily my bestfriend was there to pull me out. I have been afraid of swimming ever since. I'm getting braver if people leave me alone and let me practice on my own. My brother has a swimming pool and in the summer we go over there and I swim the only way I know how in the shallow end.
My son and husband are like fish and swim perfectly. If my son could, he would live in the water. He's been swimming since he was really little and I'm glad he isn't scared like I am.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I understand, but just know you are not alone..lol...I was pushed in a swimming pool with the girl not knowing I didn't know how to swim..That scarred me for life..lol
@prestocaro (1251)
• United States
18 Mar 07
I grew up in Houston, TX and everyone I knew either had a pool or belonged to the community pool. I don't really remember learning how to float, I think my parents taught me that at a really young age, but I can remember being 4 in the pool and trying to doggy paddle my little heart out. I'm still pretty bad at the doggy paddle, and I can't butterfly for more than a lap, but I love to enjoy a swim during the summer time. This summer I'm moving to a beach town and looking forward to all the free workouts!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Oh wow, very cool, Hopefully I will be able to enjoy it like I want to also...Thank you for sharing
@mouse27 (1155)
• Canada
20 Mar 07
i couldn't swim for the longest time if my life depended on it. I used to panic everytime i started to go under water and then my little brother told me not to panic and low and behold when i stopped panicking i started to come up on my own. when you panic you go under more so if you go under don't panic just kick your legs and keep bringing your arms up then downby your side you'll make it don't worry
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
20 Mar 07
Yep, that's what happens to me. I always panic and start to flap my legs and arms...So hopefully this class will help me
@neglitex (347)
• Latvia
18 Mar 07
I used to swim professional. 6 times a week. And I swam for like 5 years or so....I kind of get bored of it so I changed my sport to Canoing! :) An I love it, also I have swimming trainings in winters usually once a week. You start learning to swim NOW! It's very cool to swim faster than others, trust me! :)
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Oh wow, thank you for the info. That sounds like a lot of fun also