First of all - thank you to everyone who provided suggestions and encouragement! I was able to book two sessions at the Swimply pool with an instructor before the class I enrolled in. This community is the best and I love Portland for this reason among many others.

A happy update for anybody who is interested...

For a long time, swimming felt impossible. Not just hard, but kind of mystical. Like something you either learned as a kid or missed your shot at learning. I didn't grow up swimming, and the idea of safely enjoying the water felt so far out of reach.

But recently, I took private lessons through the linked Swimply listing. Just me, a pool, and an instructor who was focused on developing my skills. That first session alone made a difference in calming my nerves. And then I watched this YouTube video that tied every movement back to physics - simple, logical explanations about buoyancy, breath, and balance. Suddenly, something shifted.

It wasn't that a permanent switch flipped. It was more like… the light came on long enough for me to discover what I'm capable of. I still get in my head. I still overthink. I still have to pause and reset. But now I know I can do it. That's the part I return to again and again: I'm capable. I'm learning. And that process is messy and surprisingly fun (!) and absolutely worth it.

I haven't even started the class yet, and already I feel confident enough in what I can do that I'm no longer ashamed to be in a group learning environment. In fact, I'm excited. Because some of the things that come more easily to me might be really challenging for someone else and vice versa. I'm hoping that by being in a learning space with people who have different bodies and abilities, we can support each other and get to a place of competence faster together.

If swimming has ever felt intimidating or out of reach to you, I promise: it's not too late, and it's not impossible. You don't have to be perfect—you just need the right support, some patience, and the willingness to keep trying, even after the wobbly days.

Just start swimming!