The Only Way To It Is Through It
I thought I had an amazing insight while swimming yesterday only to discover that Robert Frost already said something similar:
“The best way out is always through.”
Wait!?!
Maybe that does make me really insightful—he was a pretty influential dude.
Here was the set our coach wrote:
6 X 25 fly @ :30
1 X 100 IM @ 1:40
2 X 75 backstroke @ 1:20
1 X 100 IM faster than #1 @ 1:40
3 X 50 breaststroke @ 1:00
1 X 100 IM faster than #2 @ 1:40
1 X 150 freestyle @ 2:30
1 X 100 IM faster than #3 @ 1:40
50 ez
4 X 300 as 100 free, 100 back, 100 kick
I’m not going to lie, when I see IM—Individual Medley—written on the board, the little baby inside of me starts weeping.
But, that’s when I have to put on my big boy pants and face reality.
“Reed, the only way to it is through it.”
Bit by bit I chunked my way through it with my lane mates.
Before I knew it, it was 7am and we were through it.
And, well, sheepishly, it wasn’t all that bad.
You’re going to hit roadblocks.
You’re going to hit barriers.
You’re going to face things you don’t want to face.
Moments are going to challenge you.
Days are going to challenge you.
Periods are going to challenge you.
And you can run, hide, and avoid.
Or, you can make the decision and simply dive in head first and see your way through it.
My guess, growth lives on the other side—and there is only one way to find out.
As Robert Frost says, “The best way out is always through.”
Or, as I wisely told myself, “the only way to it is through it.”
Onward.