53 Years Ago: What Swimming Taught Me About Not Being The Best
By Charles Hartley
It's been 53 years since I competed in the Divisional Championship Meet for the Mohican Hills Swimming Pool in Bethesda, Maryland. I was 10 years old, and the experience taught me a valuable lesson about humility and perseverance. Despite not always being the best, I learned that striving for improvement is a victory in itself.
The meet was a sunny, warm day, a classic August vibe. I won two third-place medals, a thrilling moment for a young boy. But the real lesson came from the challenges I faced in the pool.
Swimming was a humbling sport. Practices felt like body torture, and I often didn't finish first. In fact, I was used to being the best in other sports like football, basketball, and baseball. Swimming was a stark contrast, teaching me that I wasn't the best at everything.
The coach's relentless push for more laps and faster times didn't make it enjoyable. I felt like an outlier, not part of the pool clique. But this experience prepared me for life's challenges.
As I grew older, I realized that not being the best is a common experience. I wasn't the best student, employee, or performer. Awards and recognition felt infrequent, and I often questioned my abilities. But swimming taught me that striving for improvement is a victory.
I appreciate the lessons learned from swimming. It prepared me to endure other challenges in life. If I had been the best swimmer, I might not have learned about losing so early. Swimming humbled me and taught me that I had shortcomings, a valuable lesson for life.
Today, I feel a mix of emotions, including appreciation. I'm glad I swam and didn't always win. It prepared me for other pursuits, like writing, where I strive to get better. The pursuit of improvement is a victory, regardless of the outcome.
Swimming taught me that being the best isn't the only measure of success. It's about the journey and the effort. I'm grateful for the experience, and I'm proud to have learned that not being the best is a stepping stone to becoming better.
