For instance, I've had a slight fear of water. I mean, I can to an extent swim. I just will not take the chance of swimming in deep water even with a life guard around. Silly me will hold on to the sides despite the fact I've taken swimming lessons.
At the age of 18 I took swimming lessons with a certified life guard specifically for adults who wanted to learn how to swim. It took me nearly an hour to get the courage up to jump in the eight feet deep section of the pool even though the instructor was right there.
Even after I jumped in and swam to the other end, I still didn't feel comfortable with myself. It was so embarassing to say the least.
It's sad to say, but my now 10 year old daughter is not afraid to jump in the deep part of the pool and swim. She loves jumping off the diving board. Of course I sent her to the YMCA twice for swimming lessons.
After becoming really good friends with Mike and his wife Janice, they invited me to go out in their boat to the lake. The love to ski, kneeboard, and wakeboard. I didn't tell them I was afraid of the water in fear of losing two really good friends because I was boring.
I knew I would be wearing a life jacket and I would float. It was the fear of hitting the water after losing my balance, falling that scared me.
I guess they sensed the fear in me because they patiently put up with me struggling and slipping off the kneeboard, sometimes purposely because I was afraid.
After about a dozen times of the boat going and stopping and going and stopping, I finally got the hang of it and had a blast. I was so proud of myself for kneeboarding. I was embarassed because I was so out of shape I couldn't get back in the boat without their help.
The next time we went out I was anxious. I thought one of them would get out in the water and kneeboard alongside me. Nope. Mike told me I was doing it on my own this time. The first time I somehow slipped off the kneeboard smacking right into the water and got a face full of it. I coughed, choked and gagged but I was fine. I got back up and did it again and had fun. They had to finally stop the boat so I would let one of them have their turn.
This coming summer I hope to have enough arm strength to get over the wakes. I also hope to possibly learn how to turn around completely.