This morning, I went for a solo swim for the first time in a long time. When I was swimming every day, I often swam alone. My commitment to getting my body into a body of water came first; finding someone with whom to share the experience came second. Now that I am no longer bound by that dailiness, it can be easy to opt out if there isn’t anyone else swimming at a time that works for me.

Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and not…