Tell Me Something Good

Tell me something good, is a strategy that our principal uses every few months to get the staff talking.

My something good has been joining a water aerobics class. 

Fun fact, I don’t know how to swim! 

I had been looking for a fun way to increase my activity and then I remembered that a lady in the dog group that I used to meet-up when I had Dollar told me about taking classes at the community pool.  I do love the water so I decided to give it a try.  I hoped that swimming wasn’t a requirement for taking the exercise class and I signed up.

The first night of class (they start a 7PM), I was anxious about several things. One, leaving my house after being secluded since before Covid isolation. Seems like I had developed a mild case of agoraphobia. Two, I was afraid of the new experience: Would I be able to keep up with the rest of the class? Would my classmates be nice? Would I drown?

As the first class began, I soon was enjoying myself. I do love the water.  Even though I wasn’t properly dressed. I wore the wrong type of bathing suit and no water shoes. Since, I have learned that water shoes help with balancing yourself in the water in addition to adding sole support. I have also learned that not all bathing suits are equal, you need a one piece that is modest and keeps all your bits covered during all the movements. Most recently, I have invested on a swim parka- a must to keep you warm and dry as you get out of the pool and drive home.

The first class was a giant comedy of errors as everything that could go wrong did.  On a positive note, I did bring a lot of laughs to the regulars as I kept drowning and having issues with my erroneously chosen wardrobe.  Yet, I didn’t let my mistakes keep me from eventually getting the hang of the fun sport. Going into my fourth week, I think that I have discovered my workout routine. I look forward to getting in the water after a stressful day at work, away from screens and from life’s demands. It’s my “me time” which is becoming as special as my weekend coffee mornings in my naturally beautiful backyard.

The class is 99 percent female, there’s only one man in the class which I like.  There’s only me and another girl that are the young blood, the rest are silver mavens. Most of them are regulars too, so they have been taking the class for awhile and they are super encouraging.  I am a little skeptical about doing this in the winter months, but the ladies tell me that I will be ok. “It’s the getting in and out of the pool that will be hard,” they all chime in.

For many taking a class is no big whoopie, but for me it’s a huge pat on my back.  Most of my life I struggled doing new things because my anxiety and fear of the unknown was so great.  Thus, when I do things that are absolutely new to me and I venture out on my own - I truly amaze myself.  My chest puffs with pride and my self-confidence increases.