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Learning to swim at 65 sounds like a quirky goal until you hear what it takes to face the deep end when fear has been rehearsed for decades. We sit down with Sharlene Langner, an artist and first-time children’s book author, to talk about how a COVID-era search for stress relief led her into pool walking, swim lessons, and a new identity: someone who does hard things slowly, consistently, and on purpose.

Sharlene shares the real mechanics of overcoming fear, from resisting pride and starting in the true beginner group to practicing breathing and floating until panic loses its grip. One line in particular reframes the whole experience: if you can swim, you stay on top of the water, so the depth stops deciding your future. That idea becomes the heart of her children’s book, Auntie Shar Learns to Swim, written to help kids recognize fear early and build courage through practice, not perfection.

The conversation also goes far deeper than the pool. Sharlene opens up about a uterine cancer diagnosis, difficult treatment seasons, and what it meant to keep returning to a creative dream when her body and mind felt depleted. We talk about finding faith in Jesus through community, accepting practical support like a meal train, and experiencing baptism in rough ocean waves as a moment of trust and release. If you’re looking for an inspirational story about resilience, Christian hope, and finishing what you start, this one will stay with you.

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