She was stung by the tentacles of a box jellyfish in the sea, leaving her skin marked with whip-like scars, and as the venom spread, it led to paralysis throughout her body. She was also pushed into opposing currents and encountered sharks. The prolonged high-intensity energy expenditure caused her to experience hallucinations in the water, where the illusory Taj Mahal appeared on the ocean floor, and she felt as if seagulls were pecking at her, as if her spirit was being both detached and whipped.

When Nyad flipped through a book that her mother had read before she passed away, she saw a folded corner on a page with the words: ‘Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Sometimes, the purity that captivates us isn’t about indifference to what others say, but rather about entering a state of absolute focus where we can neither see nor hear anyone else. This clean energy is a complete loyalty to oneself. Whether it’s a long journey, underwater diving, running a marathon, or cycling, it feels like a grand self-exploration. In the beginning, we may have companions, but once we enter a tranquil flow of the heart, we find ourselves alone. Underwater, we are surrounded by a silent and closed-off ocean; while driving, the earth opens up to you, with endless distant horizons sparking limitless thoughts; and when cycling, the spirit is vibrant and wild, accompanied only by the wind in your ears.

This self-exploration can also be a form of self-cultivation, learning, and trying to change. Quietude is equally enriching, as we pursue perseverance, and confidence, or learn to love and be loved on this earth.