Tumble Turn

“You need to learn to exhale, through your nose, for 5 seconds.”
-------------Random Instructions I Got From Life

I’ve been swimming since I was kid. And sa school na pinasukan ko nung college, 2 semester ang required na swimming class (basic and advance). Pero last Saturday, around 4pm, dun ko lang nakita ng personal ang tumble-turn.

One of the trainees here in my workplace executed it gracefully. Siguro, it was one of Fate’s Grand Design for them to join me sa weekly swimming routine ko. And again, Life conspired for me to witness and learn.

I learned (and I’m getting better at this) to swallow my pride, and ask for instructions, kahit na mas mataas ang position (job) ko sa nagtuturo sa akin.

…that expelling carbon dioxide thru your nose prevents the water from going in, like removal of garbage from your life prevents other unwanted trash to come.

…to tighten up (bow your head, clip your knees near your chest), and brace yourself for the tumble and turn.

…that your hands should wave opposite of your turn, dahil balancing can make you stable, and prevents your head from hitting the wall.

…and that chlorine hurts your eyes, but still you need it open. And , next time, to buy yourself a goggle if you can.

…and that you can’t perfect it the first time, and that water will get into your mouth, into your nose, into your ears. But the more you do it, the lesser it (pain, suffering) happens.

…and after a LOT of hours, two red eyes, clogged ears and bloated tummy, you pull yourself out of the pool grinning…

You have that inner smile, not because there is a cutie in the pool, but because you learned… and that a hard-on didn’t count, coz what mattered is you’ve actually, genuinely grown.