Kick off your shoes. Take off your shirt, tie the sleeves together, tie the bottom shut, and blow air into the neck.

If that fails, take off your pants. Tie the legs shut and blow air into the top. Hold it shut.

If both of those efforts fail, or if you happen to not fall into the water wearing thick long sleeved and long legged clothing, flop forward and float.

Release your arms, stop kicking, and gently come up for a breath whenever you must. No unnecessary movements. Stop panicking. Rest your fatigued body. Wait for a second wind, or help.

This was called the dead man’s float when I took basic lifesaving at the rural pool. In the middle of cornfields it seemed like an unnecessary skill.

Now, as an adult, I wonder if it was a life lesson. I work towards goals. I plan, check off lists, track progress, and sometimes get off track.

When fatigue sets in, instead of a new list or plan, maybe I need to float. Resting and being still for a while to gain my strength seems like an impossible epiphany. I think I’ll try it, but it will need a new name. What do you think I should call it?