Today's post will be a little somber and I'm sorry about that, but several news items or TV shows has gotten me thinking...and both have had tragic endings.
I was horrified while reading about the woman who fell out of the rollercoaster. Personally I love those rides, but my heart starts pumping and the adrenalin gets going even before I get on the ride. Sometimes I talk myself out of it and turn around and leave. Other times I continue on.
Last night we were watching a show on ESPN about a woman free diver. She and her husband were hoping she would beat the world record for no-limits free diving. Unfortunately she did not break the record and lost her life in the process.
Both of these women died. Both felt uneasy before they did them. I do believe we possess a sixth sense but we fear we will never attempt anything if we always act on that sixth sense. I also believe we can be pushed into things that we do not want to do. In the case of the diver, many warning lights went off. It was a fast trip put together on a shoestring. Shortcuts were taken all along the way. One thing after another went wrong. I think the most horrific was the fact that the "doctor" on board the boat was a dentist!!! I truly believe her better judgment said "do not do this" but she got caught up in another's excitement. Hubby said her whole demeanor and facial expressions showed she would have rather not gone down that day. So sad.
In the case of the roller coaster woman, she wanted to ride the ride: her first time to do it. She heard all the other bars click shut 3 times. Her bar clicked only once. She knew something wasn't right but the underpaid employee was on a time clock. Lock 'em in and get them out. I wonder if she debated with herself "should I get off or not?" Bless her soul, that first ride would be her last. I have to wonder if her weight had anything to do with the bar not locking the usual 3 times. We all carry our weight differently so it is possible that the area she carries her weight was the exact place that the bar needed to lock her in. Realizing I haven't read anything recently about it, I just looked it up and found that some experts are speculating her size might have something to do with it although a witness said the victim was not any bigger than she was and her bar locked 3 times. According to safety experts, those seats are designed for adults weighing 180 pounds. Think about that before you ride at an amusement park.
I recall reading about another such example. A husband was a parachutist. He always wanted his wife to share in his love for jumping out of planes and free floating down. She always refused. I don't know why she finally agreed, but reluctantly she went up that day and did not survive.
Not as tragic but still dramatic, I, too, agree to do things that I would prefer not to do. I sign up to help out here and help out there. I have over-committed myself and slowly I am hurting my health. I do not have time to eat correctly. Fast meals and pop in the microwave dinners are becoming the norm again. I try to go against my grain but I can't help it; taking the easy way is my mantra! I don't want to do that! Moana is always moaning to take the easy way-- run through the drive-thru fast food place. Sit and watch TV instead of cleaning up. Volunteer for another project. Teach another class. Take an over-load semester and drive yourself and everyone around you crazy. You get the picture, right?
So today my "no" will be NO. The world will keep on revolving even if I don't volunteer for that project or that committee. It's not like I'm not already volunteering for things. I just have to prioritize and realize that when I over-commit to too many things, I am not be helpful to any of them or me.
No comments:
Post a Comment