11
“You Already Know How To Swim!!!!”
by David LaPlantz ·
The warm early morning sun felt good as the shy young lad stood clutching his bath towel, his toes wiggling and filtering the tan sand. This would be a very special day for him. Along with the other young children, he would have his first real swimming lesson today. The excitement was more than he could bear!
The Lifeguard asked if any children knew how to swim. He raised his hand and was told, “Show us your stuff.” He dropped his towel, dove into the clear, quarry water. He knew how to swim under water very well, could hold his breath for a long time and loved the silent propulsion his body provided. Swimming a distance of about 25 feet, his eyes enjoying the underwater magnitude, he finally broke the surface of the water and felt quite accomplished.
The Lifeguard shouted, “Why are you here?” The lad replied. “To learn how to swim!” The response was not what he expected, “You already know how to swim, g’ wan home Sunny!”
But, but, but, his goal was to learn how to swim on top of the water, like the bigger boys. He wanted to learn the various strokes the boys impressed the girls with. Sure, he knew how to swim, but how could he explain that to the Lifeguard? The young lad’s shyness prevented him from further pursuing the matter. Emerging from the water, picking up his towel and drying himself, he slowly walked toward his Monarch Silver King and rode home.
He never learned how to swim on top of the water. His shyness eventually disappeared and in its place was a clarity of purpose, confidence and the knowledge that he could do anything. To this day, he still can’t swim on top of the water.
Communication and language don’t often work. And what we think we need, we already have. Clarification in language and life are tough realities to produce. Anyone for a swim?
