There’s this massive open field near my old hood, all green and flat like a natural football pitch. Back in the day, the government dug seven giant holes there to dump trash, but locals got pissed, clashed with the workers, and the project got canceled. Then rain filled those holes, and boom, we had our own lakes, fishing spots, swimming spots, a whole vibe.

We used to chill there all the time, sunset, football, swimming. Those who couldn’t swim had a “life jacket” made from two 2 liter bottles tied to each end of a rope. You’d lie on the rope, bottles floating on your left and right, just enough to keep you above water. Ghetto innovation at its finest 😂

One morning, I went there alone to work out. After running and sweating like crazy, I saw some of those bottle floaters lying around. Thought, “Why not take a swim?” The water looked calm, so I hopped in, laid across the rope, and started paddling slowly… until the knot came loose.

Both bottles drifted apart, and man, in that instant, I swear my brain showed me my whole life, my funeral, my family crying, everything. A billion thoughts in one breath. Then survival mode kicked in. I lunged for one bottle, grabbed it tight, and kicked like a maniac till I reached the shore.

I sat there silent for five minutes, heart racing. That’s when it hit me, I wasn’t scared of drowning anymore. The technique was already in me, I just needed to lose the fear. I tried again, one bottle, then no bottle, and boom, I was swimming.

Fast forward two weeks later, I was spending whole days in the water. People started calling me “Shark.” 😂.

Moral of the story: sometimes you don’t need someone to save you, just one moment that forces you to realize you already can.

ህዳር 1, Monday
What a beautiful day 🌅

Lol so true😁

i just applied to this hackaton and planning to build somethin that i had in mind months ago