A rumination

Is it harder when it’s easier?

The fancy word for thought struck me as both pretentious and correct. The right title for an exercise in what if.

The lifeguards at the pool where I take my aquatic exercise programs do not have a stressful watch. They sometimes help lower me in a chair in and out of the water. They sit on the sidelines and rotate positions. It is unlikely that they will be called to rescue a swimmer.

A lifeguard at a turbulent ocean has to be very vigilant.

Lifeguards on beaches where there have been shark sightings might be on edge.

Let’s speculate about the mental health disparities between the gym pool guards and the ones watching for sharks.

Which set of water workers has more stress?

What if the lifeguards at the ocean side got a job at the gym? Wouldn’t they feel stressed by the easier job?