The World is Like a Swimming Pool

No. It’s not a joke. Let me elaborate.

The place that eases my mind is the sea. When I swim, the world outside just disappears. It’s only me and my breath.

But summer has ended.

My beloved beach is frozen.

I wanted to make swimming a habit, knowing it would become a part of me. I exchanged the sandy shores for tiled floors and the quiet nature to a noisy pool.

What was I thinking?

It felt out of place. At first, I thought that I would adapt to the new environment. All I need is time.

But I kept thinking of why I was okay with skipping a swim. Why was I reducing the time I spent in the water? I used to swim three times a week. In the cold season, I only do one a week.

The swimming pool, once inviting, had become a chore to visit.

One day, as I was swimming on my back, my eyes closed in peaceful solitude, and someone splashed my face.

I was scared and angry, but I understood that the pool was a shared space.

This incident made me observe the dynamics of the swimming pool.

I felt others. I could feel the ripples caused by their movements, their kicks.

They compete with each other, sometimes involving me.

I found myself constantly strategizing and thinking about many things before going there or in the water. That girl is fast. It’s better to wait until she reaches the end. That guy thinks he is a sea butterfly, so let’s avoid him.

Swimming in the pool had become anything but calming. It was a stark contrast to my serene sea swims.

That’s why I was okay to swim less.

It made me think.

Isn’t swimming in the pool like living in the 21st century?

We create waves for each other.

We live too close. We lack freedom. We are constantly exposed to the emotional states of others.

Why do I have to know about what is happening at the other end of the world? Do we really learn from their failures and successes? We often lack the full context, and nobody seems to be interested in providing it.

We are in this pool, close to each other. Touching and interacting, and even so, what I need is space.

I yearn for the sea.

I crave the beach.

I miss the freedom.

I miss the waves.

I miss listening to my thoughts only.

I miss floating calmly.

Thanks for your time!

The Witty Witch