It was the year 1990 and I was enjoying my summer vacation. I wanted to learn Swimming. When I asked my father’s permission, the response was a strict “No”.
Good Evening Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmasters and Distinguished Guests.
I was adamant about learning swimming and went on a “Fast” like Anna Hazare. I did not eat all day. Finally, my father agreed, with a condition that I should go with friends and not alone.
Chintu, Munna and I went to K.C.Reddy Swimming Pool in Sadashivanagar. I saw a big Swimming Pool and the water was Sky Blue in colour. There was Lush green Garden on to the right side of the Pool.
Water splashed as soon as I jumped into the pool. It was thrilling & I enjoyed it. Chintu had brought small plastic ball. We started playing with it by throwing it on the water.
In the first week of swimming, there was less of swimming and more of playing. Then I became serious about learning to swim. However, there wasn’t anybody to teach me.
An idea struck me! I bought a book “Learn Swimming in 30 Days”. I read the book within a day and I was all set to go Swimming!
Next day, I went to the Swimming Pool with the Book. The book said “Beat your legs by holding onto the edge”. I entered the water and beat my legs. I was very happy with my leg beating skills.
I got out of the water, picked up the book again and read “Move your hands to push the water behind you”. I got back into the water and moved my hands as I stood in the pool.
I became happier with my progress and thought “Ah this is it!” I did this over the next two days and my confidence increased.
On the third day, I decided to do the hand and leg movements together! When my hands went inside, my legs wouldn’t kick the water. When my legs started kicking, I forgot to breathe. When I started breathing, I just stood in the pool.
This went on for 30 days! The book had worn out but swimming still seemed impossible. Finally, I was able to beat my hands and legs together and thought I was a swimming pro.
I asked my friend, Ashwath, to come with me so that I could show off my swimming skills. Both of us went to the pool. I proudly showed him, my Swimming Skills. Ashwath said, ‘Bhashkar what are u doing at 4 feet, come and swim near 6 feet’. I panicked, but I could not tell him. I had already blown my own trumpet.
I Prayed to all my Gods and swam towards middle of the pool. By the time I reached 6 feet depth, I was already exhausted and started drowning. Ashwath gave his hand and tried to pull me up. But he was short and thin. Instead I started pulling him down and both of us started drowning.
All of a sudden, a Tube was thrown by somebody and I caught hold of it. Luckily both of us survived. An Old Lady Coach had thrown the tube when she saw us drowning. Seeing her save my life, she appeared like a Goddess to my chlorine filled eyes.
When we reached the edge of the pool, I felt a long blunt object hit my head. It was painful. When I looked around, the same old lady was hitting my head with a stick and shouted at me “Why did u go there, if you don’t know to swim. Suddenly she changed from being a Goddess to being a Demon.
This incident changed my perception about Learning New Things and the Risks of a False Pride.
Dear Toastmasters, I learnt a lesson the hard way that instead of trying to learn everything on our own, it is better to get Professional Training from an Expert of that field.
Now, I am learning my swimming lessons from a Swimming Coach and can perform Freestyle and Backstrokes easily. Now I am enjoying it.
If only self help books could be the solution to all learning, teachers wouldn’t be needed, schools would run empty and publishers would be laughing all the way to the bank.
I conclude with a quote from Willa Cather. “There are some things we learn best in Calm and some in Storm”.
Back to the Toastmaster.
