This Is Water

Perhaps he grew tired of swimming. Perhaps he grew tired of feeling too few people understand that “this is water.”

At the beginning, he says “i’m not that old fish!” But he totally was. I think he only said that to maintain connection to the “young fish” long enough for them to listen.

I also couldn’t help but feel that his “example of how NOT to think…” was actually his own default, which is why it was so vivid; he knew himself well. He knew the value of education, he knew what he was sacrificing. He knew he had done much to convey the ideas he thought were important. That rat race claims lots of lives, and ruins many others. “Day-In, Day-Out…” is the core of the issue.

In that regard, i don’t care what i do or don’t accomplish, nor do i care if anyone thinks i was a success or failure. I care how i experience “living life” each day, and i don’t want to endure a meaningless grind, spending each miserable day “enduring” or “pushing myself through it” or “telling myself this is water.”

I just want a “good enough” “Day-In, Day-Out.” When i feel that is an impossible goal, that’s when i feel i should just stop. I have to keep telling myself there’s still a chance for something worth enduring for, even if i feel quite certain there is not, or that it is very unlikely, or implausible.

I think his parting says: “it’s not worth being so miserable all the time.”

It’s still just more evidence in support of my already established perspective: those who see most clearly, seem to be the least content.

Perhaps that means Truth is “bad.”