I have been learning how to swim better in the ocean for the past three weeks. I love swimming, but I was never formally taught. I learned by watching YouTube videos and trying not to drown in the ocean.

Where I live, I have seen a lot of people participate in the Bold and Beautiful swim, swimming from one beach to the next. I have wanted to join them ever since I moved to this suburb, but I never made it a priority—until this year, when a friend said she would join me in getting better at ocean swimming.

She was proactive and got us signed up with a swimming coach. Last week was week three, and I can already see progress. On track to join them by the end of this year.

It’s been both fun and frustrating. I had trained my brain to survive and swim in the ocean a certain way, and now, having to retrain it to swim the right way, I’ve been forced to adopt a beginner’s mindset. It’s tough. I thought I was good at this, and telling yourself to go back to basics in something you thought you had mastered is not easy.

“Wax On, Wax Off” has been a good reminder. I’ve been spending more time at the pool outside of coaching, doing laps, and focusing on the new technique—1% better every day.