Making your mark isn't the point

You don’t write the history books, so don’t waste your time making Horcruxes

I took this photo many years ago. Something about it still resonates.

“Which event do you want to do? I think it’s asking a lot for you to do both.”

I sat in a small, windowless box next to one of my parents and across from one of my coaches. I can’t recall if I was in my suit, if I was wet, or if I had arrived before or after practice. My brain determined those details didn’t matter and dumped them years ago. (For whatever reason, I do recall that my upholstered chair had plastic arms. You know the kind — they adorn waiting rooms everywhere).

Sitting in the coaches’ office, I thought for a minute and responded, “Well, which one do you think I have a better shot of breaking the record? And which record do you think will last longer?”

My coach shook his head. “That shouldn’t matter.” 

His tone, combined with the look on his face, swelled the feeling I had in my gut before I opened my mouth. It reminded me of when another coach looked down at me flat on my ass on the deck after I’d slipped i…