Chapter 1: Embracing the Challenge

Recently, I faced my fears while swimming in the unpredictable waves of Lake Michigan. As part of my goal to swim 100 miles in 90 days, I committed to tackling any conditions, save for a thunderstorm—where the risk of lightning is just too great. As Seneca wisely noted, "He who indulges in empty fears earns himself real fears."

Though I consider myself an experienced swimmer, my longest open-water swim of ten miles left me completely drained, making dinner conversation nearly impossible. I likely dozed off somewhere between the ribeye and the decadent crème brûlée.

Before venturing into the choppy waters, I opted to swim a half mile towards the sunrise. The warm orange hues in the sky helped calm my nerves as I navigated the waves. I primarily used the breaststroke to keep an eye on the larger swells, but they still managed to catch me off guard.

After reaching the half-mile mark, I shifted my course southward along the shoreline. Switching to a bilateral freestyle stroke allowed me to maintain a view of both the shore and the horizon. In a moment of distraction, a massive wave crashed over me, spinning me underwater and forcing me to inhale water. Panic set in as I realized I was entangled in the buoy cord, struggling beneath the surface.

In that distressing moment, my thoughts spiraled out of control: "What if I drown here, a half-mile from shore?" Yet, I grasped the buoy, took a deep breath, and surfaced, expelling the water I had swallowed. With the sun warming my back, I took a moment to float and reassess my situation.

Reflecting on Seneca's Stoic teachings, I reminded myself that fear is often a mental construct rather than an accurate representation of reality. Floating there, surrounded by the serene beauty of the post-sunrise sky, I recognized that the waves were not my enemy; they were merely a challenge to be conquered. Lake Michigan, while vast and powerful, is a body of water I respect as a capable swimmer, fully aware of its unpredictability.

As I faced yesterday's swim, I learned that fear, when confronted with a Stoic mindset, diminishes, empowering us to emerge stronger and more self-assured. Now, as I gaze out at Lake Michigan, I find its surface calm and inviting. What challenges await me on my ninth swim? Perhaps I'll catch a Lake Trout for dinner—if it doesn't catch me first.

The first video, "How to 'overcome' fear | Trevor Ragan | TEDxCedarRapids," delves into techniques for confronting and managing fear, providing insights that resonate with my swimming experience.

Chapter 2: The Power of Perspective

In my journey through the waves, I realized that our imagination often amplifies our fears. As Seneca put it, "We suffer more in imagination than in reality." Yesterday's swim served as a powerful reminder that by adopting a Stoic perspective, we can diminish the hold fear has over us.

The second video, "How to Unbound Your Willpower | Deepwoken Verse 2," explores the concept of harnessing willpower to overcome obstacles, paralleling the mental strength needed to navigate the challenges of open-water swimming.