Not only do I struggle to be persistent in the drudgery of non-linear progression, I often forget the higher mastery my soul is after. Without discounting in anyway the life blood of the achieving the material goal there is the quieter, humbler, anonymous observer in me that sees the honest level of my authentic commitment and price I will pay in action toward that progress. There is a mystical relationship between achieving a sub 22 second 50 yard swim and the unseen commitment to the trudging process to get there. My sense is the commitment and follow through has the highest ultimate value but neither part of the relationship is served by diluting the alchemy of holding both in esteem.