--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Promise me you will not spend so much…" description: "\"“Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg" --- # Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water… ![“Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim.” -Tyler Knott Gregson” quote by Dan Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg) > ““Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim.” -Tyler Knott Gregson”” [Dan Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-johnston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting personal passions for survival tasks erodes joy; we must prioritize what we love to keep swimming in life **In simple terms:** Overworking dulls spirit; balance work and joy Key Takeaway Reclaim time for beloved activities Themes balance passion self‑care Mood determined inspired Type Promise:1 Swim:1 Time:1 Treading water:0 Water:0 Swim Tyler:0 Loved Swim:0 When to use this quote - career - family responsibilities - creative hobbies Key Concepts time management life priorities Questions to Reflect On - What passions have you sidelined? - How can you schedule regular “swim” time? A Different Perspective Too much focus on “survival” can cause burnout ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Loved Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-swim-2591142/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim/) [Swim Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim-tyler-2591141/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Treading water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treading-water/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Capo, my first golden retriever, so loved to swim she once jumped off a cliff to get into Lake Superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/capo-my-first-golden-retriever-so-loved-to-swim-she-once-jumped-off-a/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I had a great time as a teacher, but I was just treading water, as a lot of us do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/i-had-a-great-time-as-a-teacher-but-i-was-just-treading-water-as-a/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [“Western man, Jung saw, always wants to do something, to “get somewhere”; this kind of restlessness is characteristic of us all. A few years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-valentine-lachman/western-man-jung-saw-always-wants-to-do-something-to-get-somewhere/) [Gary Valentine Lachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-valentine-lachman/) > [One of the first things President Trump did to stimulate the economy was to remove harmful regulations that left our small banks, energy companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kirk/one-of-the-first-things-president-trump-did-to-stimulate-the-economy/) [Charlie Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kirk/) > [Any mother with half a skull knows that when Daddy's little boy becomes Mommy's little boy, the kid is so wet he's treading water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/any-mother-with-half-a-skull-knows-that-when-daddy-s-little-boy/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [When I first signed schoolboy forms for United, as a midfield player, I felt for a while that I was just treading water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/when-i-first-signed-schoolboy-forms-for-united-as-a-midfield-player-i/) [Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/) > [One of the reasons for putting yourself on the line, is that life is not simply treading water... I always felt that once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-button/one-of-the-reasons-for-putting-yourself-on-the-line-is-that-life-is/) [Dick Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-button/) > [“Indonesia is just treading water when we are supposed to be bringing about change”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joesoef-isak/indonesia-is-just-treading-water-when-we-are-supposed-to-be-bringing/) [Joesoef Isak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joesoef-isak/) > [“my arms around his shoulders. I try to grab a hold of my bearings and attempt to open my eyes, and when I do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-ellen-malpas/my-arms-around-his-shoulders-i-try-to-grab-a-hold-of-my-bearings-and/) [Jodi Ellen Malpas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-ellen-malpas/) > [“By any numerical measure, humanity is becoming rapidly less poor. But between half and two-thirds of people in the West have been treading water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-luce/by-any-numerical-measure-humanity-is-becoming-rapidly-less-poor-but/) [Edward Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-luce/) > [It was like treading water all through the '60s, and when 1970 kicked in, I thought "We're here. Right." God, this is exciting. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/it-was-like-treading-water-all-through-the-60s-and-when-1970-kicked/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“I was treading water, trying neither to drown nor to swim to safety, just staying in place, because here was the truth - even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-was-treading-water-trying-neither-to-drown-nor-to-swim-to-safety/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“As the sun rose I could see Etna, a truncated cone with a plume of smoke over it like the quill of a pen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-newby/as-the-sun-rose-i-could-see-etna-a-truncated-cone-with-a-plume-of/) [Eric Newby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-newby/) > [“ Sean was watching me, though. And Sean wiped the bryozoa residue from his hand across my stomach. This was the third time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/sean-was-watching-me-though-and-sean-wiped-the-bryozoa-residue-from/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“in the end she had not wanted a life spent treading water in his story. She still did not—and yet she regarded herself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kij-johnson/in-the-end-she-had-not-wanted-a-life-spent-treading-water-in-his/) [Kij Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kij-johnson/) ## More by Dan Johnston > [“Knowledge Brings Awareness and Awareness Brings Success”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-johnston/knowledge-brings-awareness-and-awareness-brings-success/) [Dan Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-johnston/) [Explore all 2 Dan Johnston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-johnston/) ## More Promise quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Because we live in a fallen world, we suffer. But those of us who know Jesus are never alone in the suffering, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-turner-lee/because-we-live-in-a-fallen-world-we-suffer-but-those-of-us-who-know/) [Melissa Turner Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-turner-lee/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [A promise, a bond, a joy, a love for the ages, for the history books.…But what was love but pain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-la-cruz/a-promise-a-bond-a-joy-a-love-for-the-ages-for-the-history-books-but/) [Melissa de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-la-cruz/) > [“I’d see this through to the end… This promise above all others, I will gladly keep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shirvington/i-d-see-this-through-to-the-end-this-promise-above-all-others-i-will/) [Jessica Shirvington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shirvington/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you ponder the scriptures and begin to do what you covenanted with God to do, I can promise you that you will feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/if-you-ponder-the-scriptures-and-begin-to-do-what-you-covenanted-with/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-promise-myself-that-i-will-enjoy-every-minute-of-the-day-that-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many people expect, just as they did then, "those at the top" to make all their decisions for them: Please get us work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladyslaw-bartoszewski/many-people-expect-just-as-they-did-then-those-at-the-top-to-make-all/) [Wladyslaw Bartoszewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladyslaw-bartoszewski/) > [PRomise DAy SPecial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/promise-day-special/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never threaten, because a threat is a promise to pay that it isn't always convenient to meet, but if you don't make it good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horace-lorimer/never-threaten-because-a-threat-is-a-promise-to-pay-that-it-isn-t/) [George Horace Lorimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horace-lorimer/) [Browse all 5,486 Promise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim.” -Tyler Knott Gregson”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Johnston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-johnston/promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-time-treading-water-and-trying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Promise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-johnston/promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-time-treading-water-and-trying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac6/dan-johnston-90399_time_promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-ti_1872321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that…” — Dan Johnston", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dan Johnston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-johnston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Promise me you will not spend...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-johnston/promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-time-treading-water-and-trying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-johnston/promise-me-you-will-not-spend-so-much-time-treading-water-and-trying/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```