A couple days ago I swam laps at the gym pool. It's been more than ten years since I swam laps, and I definitely underestimated the effort the exercise demanded. Most likely the weight lifting I did before swimming played a part, but I felt like I was floundering  - gasping for breath and uselessly splashing.

I felt good after despite the many gulps of chlorine water I had swallowed. In this brief euphoria, I couldn't help but draw some parallels between this swimming session and my other life activities.

For one, my goggles were barely functional, being an old pair I used quite a few years ago. I need new goggles. I also felt that I was making poor decisions (thinking I could fit in 1-2 more strokes before taking a breath) and suffering the consequences (gulping pool water). I thought I could hold my breath longer than I actually can.

Similarly, I feel like I can use new 'goggles' for life - maybe that's what school will be for me. Really expensive 'goggles.' I also feel like I can make better decisions than I have been. 

At some point, I plan to be able to glide through the water.