Just keep swimming

'Mind over matter'
served very well, until
middle age - as is its habit -
introduced shades of grey;
added the caveat
'in certain circumstances.
Be wise.'
 
We can almost always
do more than we think.
Monday mornings,
uninspiring employment,
caregiving responsibilities and
injuries have all reinforced this mantra.
 
Given that viewpoint
and a love for the water,
an hour-long training swim
shouldn't be hard.
Tackled tenaciously,
success is possible
when tired, sore, moody
or just feeling bored.
 
Warm-up requires patience;
swim through the pain.
It gets easier!
Engage that mind,
create distractions;
body knows what to do
and will find its stride soon.
 
Unfortunately,
today's lane is rammed.
Somebody constantly
wants to stop,
overtake or be overtaken.
Rhythm thus varies,
but worse than that,
today's effort
more closely resembles
sinking in quicksand
than gliding through water.
 
Outside observers
see solid progress,
but the swimmer
feels more like
a spider,
struggling to avoid drowning.
Too many limbs pulling
in too many directions,
breathless and out of control.
 
With hindsight,
attempting it
with an asthma attack
gnawing at the lungs,
wasn't so wise.
Cool water felt good
against swollen eyes
and irritated skin,
washing away the day's impurities.
So the mind persevered,
while the body put up a fight,
and demanded a rest,
to just float for a while.
 
Today's lesson learnt:
apply wisdom to life's maxims.
The choice isn't always
keep on swimming
or give up and drown—
sometimes it's best
to stop striving and float.
Stop fighting the water,
and it can carry you.