AN OLD SAW THAT CUTS

"Don't go near the swimming pool until you learn how to swim."

I overheard a neighborhood mother provide that interestingly perplexing instruction to her five-year-old son. At some level the statement made sense. The saying, "Don't bite off more than you can chew" makes the same sense.

But it's not good sense.

You can't learn how to swim unless you go near the pool, and you'll never know just how much you can chew until you've bitten off too much.


Lesson: Saving yourself from ever failing may save you from ever succeeding