When you don’t feel inspired, just keep swimming.
When life feels heavy, just keep swimming.
When you fail, just keep swimming.
When you triumph, just keep swimming.
When you’re bored, just keep swimming.
When you feel like you need to change, just keep swimming.
When you are unproductive, just keep swimming.
When you procrastinate, just keep swimming.
When you feel miserable, just keep swimming.
When you need a break, take a break, then just keep swimming.
When you are lonely, just keep swimming.
When you feel like stopping, just keep swimming.
When you are sure it’s not working out, just keep swimming.
When you need a new direction, change direction, but keep swimming.
If you feel stuck, just keep swimming.
If you feel like you’re going nowhere, just keep swimming.
Freddie Mercury, on his death bed, sang
Just savour every mouthful
And treasure every moment
When the storms are raging round you
Stay right where you are— Queen “Don’t Try So Hard” from Innuendo
How do these two songs relate to each other? It becomes hard to keep swimming, when you’re trying too hard. I need to learn to take it easy, so that I can keep swimming.
Don’t misinterpret “stay right where you are” and apply it to a wrong context. If you are suffering from an abusive relationship, sometimes you have to let go and get out. But then after you mourn and get over it, then get back swimming — as in, don’t give up on your quest for a meaningful relationship. “Just keep swimming” is not the same thing as keep doing the same things expecting different results. Change, experiment, try out different strokes. Reduce your run to a walk, or a crawl, if it’s too hard to keep up. But keep moving.
You know I love songs that contain wisdom. It hits me much deeper than just reading something. With some rhythm and harmony, songs deliver lessons I need to learn, so that my stubborn mind can soften and finally let in something.
That was the lesson I needed to be reminded of today. Just keep swimming.