What Lessons the Story Teaches Us? (The Swimmer, J. Cheever) The Swimmer is a story that teaches us to remember about the time, not to be self-centered and to be responsible for our closest people. Firstly, the story tells us how it is important to appreciate the present because a lot of people pass their days to hide from the reality. Therefore, we need to realize that time is passing much more quickly than we think and it is impossible to overstate the importance and value of time. Secondly, the Swimmer gives us good advice that id does not matter how wealthy you are if you does not have happiness in yourself and your family. Consequently, the lesson is we become responsible for our friends and relatives, for what we have tamed. All in all, what the story teaches us is that we should appreciate the time and our family.