Swimming is a skill I mastered early. At the Y, the instructor stood on the deck holding one end of a long pole; I shivered in the water gripping the other. On cue — the piano hit “Alley Cat” distorted by waves and walls — she’d drag the pole and the pole would drag me, thrashing
Turns out there's more to it. For instance, leaning "downhill." Envisioning your body as a pencil, your nose as a golf club, and your elbow as a shark's fin. Exhausting mental work.
Leading to deep thought. Like: How do fish make it look so easy?
After swim practice, I keep up the mental workout. Leaning into a chair, I envision my body warm, my nose steamed by stew and my elbow guiding a spoon. It's rewarding work that calls on shallow thought. Like: Mmmmm.