The McGrath Minute

“Adversity is the first path to truth…” – Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)

I haven’t swam in a couple of years just because I haven’t. My initial excuse was because the pools were closed due to the pandemic, but in reality, I just stopped going. I decided to swim this week and it was very refreshing to be back in the pool. On the surface, swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise, but what I enjoy about it the most is that mental solitude that happens while you swim.

Humans are not meant to live in water, hence why we do not have gills and you are left with swimming through an unnatural environment to you. I like the fact that I cannot hear anything other than my breathing and splashing of the water. Sometimes you can get a full breath of air, while other times you can barely breathe because of water getting into your mouth. It eventually becomes a serene chaos as you slowly glide through the water.

I feel like I am in a deep meditative state while I am swimming. I reflect in my psyche and ponder all of my decisions past, present, or future. While I was considering all of these things, it made me think about life. People do things the easy way and they tend to get into a simple grind in their normal day to day life. They tend to forget their dreams and accept where they are in life. People lose the flame that burned bright inside of them because they just want to take the path of least resistance. As I thought of this, I thought of people I know and I thought of myself.

As you move through the ripples of life, just like I did while I was swimming in a pool, the waves will try to slow you down. Hardships will try to make you swim to the side of the pool and quit. They will try to make you uncomfortable. They will suffocate you or choke the will out of your body.

Adversity will bring forth resiliency and resiliency will conquer any hardship. You should welcome trials and tribulations because once you are through them you will become a better person because of them. They will develop and sharpen your will and enhance your character. Keep dreaming and everything you do should be done in order to accomplish those dreams or goals.