Issue #121 | May 29, 2026 | Previous issues​

Hey Reader,

Drowning is an awful topic. A truly sad one because it's often preventable. But like so much in life, how do you prevent something you don't understand?

Education is key.

Since summer is almost here, let's review something about drowning that I think everyone needs to know. (And then we'll apply it to life and not just swimming).

It shocked me when I learned this: people drown quietly.

In television drama, they show people flailing their arms or yelling for help when in trouble. This simply isn't true. This is why people, especially children, can drown in front of a group of people.

So how do you know if someone is drowning?

Two words: silence and movement.

Silence. Breathing is the priority for someone who is sinking and coming up for air. They are physiologically unable to speak or call out for help.

Children are naturally loud and boisterous. Always be concerned when they are quiet or not moving much in water. Even if they know how to swim: ASSUME they need help (they can drown in seconds). It’s better to be wrong than the other way around!

Movement. A person drowning instinctively presses their arms out and down in an effort to hold their mouths above water. Their bodies remain upright and there is no kicking motion. They cannot voluntarily control their arm movements so they cannot wave for help nor can they move closer to a rescuer.

In other words, a person DOESN’T LOOK LIKE they are drowning.

This is why lifeguards are highly trained to know what to watch for.

But what about drowning in life?

There are many parallels we can learn.

If I had to sum it up in one cliché it would be:

Please don't wait until you're drowning in life to ask for help (or to receive it).

Learn to recognize the signs. That's the wisdom.

Awareness and Prevention.

Usually by the time you hear a person saying, "I can't do this anymore", it means they've been struggling, treading water, for months. Maybe even years.

By the time someone is truly drowning emotionally, they may not be able to say:

• I need help.
• I am overwhelmed.
• I am resentful.
• I am scared.

This may be why we see so many people on the verge of mental and emotional collapse.

Or it could explain why people are numbing and distracting themselves with entertainment, pleasure, drugs, alcohol, etc.

It explains why people fly off the handle, overeat, withdraw, or are always on the verge of tears.

Keeping your mouth above water is a survival technique, but often it comes at a heavy price.

What is beyond burnout?

What comes after overwhelm?

It may not be fatal, like literal drowning, but it could spell disaster in other ways.

You could face emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, relational, and mental disaster that could take years to recover from.

So, what's the answer?

• How do we prevent burnout?
• How do we get help before we sink so far down we cannot ask for it?

Here are two life support systems:

Truth and Humility.

Truth is being honest and NOT pretending everything is fine, when it isn't.

Truth is speaking up about your needs BEFORE losing your breath.

Truth says, “I can’t swim,” instead of pretending you can in order to save face.

Humility is knowing your limits and sticking to them, no matter what others are saying or asking of you.

Humility says I don't jump into the deep end if I can't swim.

Humility says I don't get in the water when conditions are not favorable for swimming.

You don't prove your bravery by swimming past your ability level.

You prove wisdom by knowing what kind of water you belong in today.

How does this translate into real life?

• Rest before collapse: not after.
• Get help: not push through or I should be able to do this alone.
• Learn to say no: instead of abandoning your needs.
• Do less. Simplify.
• Know your limits.

This is tough. I know. Sometimes we're in the deep end of the pool whether we meant to be there or not.

Storms come without us asking for them.

We get too lonely or scared to ask for help. Because let's face it: who isn't in the deep end trying to survive (and have a little fun) these days?

I see you.

All of you.

I speak with you. I listen to your tears. I hear your frustrations. Your struggles.

You listen to mine.

When we share our truest selves with others, it helps us see we are not alone.

We can’t rescue everyone from everything. But we can pay attention. We can be the kind of people who notice and care.

So my dear friend, if you are in the deep end and you see the water rising and it's turbulent, tell the truth sooner than feels comfortable.

Even one honest sentence can be a hand reaching for the side of the pool.

With love,

Anna

P.S. I’m learning this with you. Not every season requires deeper water. Sometimes wisdom looks like staying where your feet can touch the bottom. Maybe someday I'll tell you about the time I didn't. 😊

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