swim

One of my favorite things about digging into personal development content is getting hit in the face with a one-liner that makes you feel something undeniable. It could be having a worldview turned on its head. Or being presented with something you’ve thought, but never really had words for.

When reading, you highlight it. When listening, you jot it down. It almost feels personal.

I was looking through the notes app on my phone the other day and came across something I jotted down earlier this year. I have no idea where it came from —Googling it didn’t help. The phrase was simple, relevant, and widely applicable…

“Swim to experience the water.”

So many of us are guilty of being ‘somewhere else’ half the time. Think about how often we do things in pursuit of something else, not connecting with what is in front of us. Or even worse, when we do things without any intention. As I write this, I can’t imagine how many hours I’ve lost to the zombie-like existence of shopping online for something I didn’t need. Or the concerning amount of times I’ve scarfed down a frozen burrito while watching YouTube.

I understand our brains need rest, and that relaxation might look different for different people —Notice I didn’t even touch on social media. And for the record, this is not an argument against online shopping or frozen burritos. More so, it’s a reminder to myself to connect with what I am doing more often. Whatever it is, do it with intention and be present with the task at hand.

We only have these single moments once, time just keeps moving forward. We should be engaged with life, doing things to experience them fully.

Prepare your meals with love, connect with the ingredients, and savor each bite with gratitude.

Turn off the podcast, take a deep breath, and bathe in the forest you’re hiking through.

Put down your phone, sit with your family and friends, and laugh together.

You owe it to yourself.