I dive into the icy waters of life

Not knowing what to expect

I try to pace myself for the journey

But there is no way to know if I have succeeded 

I come up for a breath,

I go back down

I look around 

And notice that I have fallen behind.

I try to catch up,

Gaining ground every second.

I try. 

And I try.

And I try.

The next time I look around, 

I have gained the lead.

I have finally gained the lead.

I breath again, 

And then I keep going.

Then, I need another breath,

And then another… 

Before I know it,

I have lost my lead. 

I have lost myself.

I search frantically, 

But I come up empty. 

I start again. 

A new pace has been set. 

My own pace has been set.

I no longer need to worry about everyone else.

I breath.

I keep going. 

Every turn gets harder, 

But I keep going.

I hear the distant sound of a bell. 

The signal that the end is near.

I breathe. 

I focus.

As I get to the final turn, 

I start to wonder, 

“Did I actually accomplish anything?”, 

“Did I impress anyone?”.

Then I breath.

I breath my final breath,

And I realize, 

I have accomplished everything. 

Everything that was meant to happen has happened,

And I have finished my race. 

I ask St. Peter for my time when I reach those gates.

His reply was unexpected.

“There is no need to know your time.

You need only look back at what you have accomplished,

Whose lives you have changed,

And then you will see that you…

Have won the race.”