Swimming Lessons

A brave man conquers his fear of water.Article

Last year, a harsh breakup with his girlfriend left him depressed. He took inventory of his life, concluding, “I had a lot of self-confidence issues.” He vowed to get out of the specific gravity that held him, start a human-improvement project. “I don’t want to just be alive” is how he phrased it. “I want to be living my life.”

He began running, and shed 40 pounds. And he determined to rinse himself of this fear that took up space in his life. On the whole, he didn’t paint himself as cowardly. True, he could not abide heights. He used to fear flying but got over it. As a precaution before every flight, his mother calls and insists they say a prayer.

Otherwise, he was good. Not claustrophobic. Fine with spiders and the dark. He didn’t fear baths or rain, as some aquaphobia sufferers do.

It was swimming he had to conquer.