blind luck

What is luck? How do you prove true talent?

I was in a swimming competition last month. My first competition ever.

First up: freestyle. I got up on to the platform. It slants down, so one couldn't help but dive into the water.

BANG. At the sound of the gun, my mind goes blank. I lean forward and cannonball into the water. Yes, cannonball. My goggles pop off my head, and I swim the race blind weaving back and forth.

Goggles lost. How about the match? I found my name near the bottom of the list for my age group. A loss? Not quite. I actually got third in my division. Yay! Points for my team! Blind luck? Maybe. But definitely a good douse of funny embarrassment mixed in.

Day two: Backstroke. First off, I had new goggles, but my swim cap split in two. I did a great back dive into the water (especially considering I'd never done it before). I swam well for me. I hadn't learned how to do the turn in the water, so that slowed me down a bit. But I was satisfied. I'd accomplished what I'd wanted.

Now, for the results: Near the bottom of the list for my age group. Same as the night before, there were only three girls in my division competing, so again, I got third--but much closer to second than the night before.

And the end, not luck, for good or bad. It was just me, a few months of spotty practice in the pool and my nerves--doing what I never had the nerve to do in high school.