life is going to shovel dirt on you,
life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. the trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

the infinitive form is very strange.

the trick to getting out of the well. why is to getting？？ isn't it to do?

Question

life is going to shovel dirt on you,
life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. the trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

the infinitive form is very strange.

the trick to getting out of the well. why is to getting？？ isn't it to do?

Answer

The "to" isn't makin an infinitive, it's showing a goal.  It's not like the "to" in "to swim"; instead, it's like the to in "go to Beijing". The goal of the trick is the act of getting out of the well.

It's pretty rare to see "to Xing", but there are a few other phrases that use it.  One of the most common is "look forward to Xing", as in "I look forward to meeting you".  I am looking forward in time, in the direction of our eventual meeting.

I hope that helps.

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