Awareness is Key

I can't say it enough. We need to be aware of the hazards and dangers around us. I know, I know! We have had safety drilled into us since we were young adults. We rode our bikes without helmets and we survived. We roller skated without knee pads and we survived. We rode in cars without seat belts and we survived. We played with matches and we survived. I can't even tell you all the risks that I took. And I survived.

We were lucky. Do you really want me to counter that argument with all the kids that didn't survive? Do you want to relive Adrian's funeral in high school because he didn't survive? Do you want to go with me to visit Tony who had severe irreversible brain damage? Yes, he survived but I think his parents were hoping for something more for him in the broad scope.

The reality is that most of us do survive the crazy adrenalin ridden years of adolescence. But we don't all. And would you rather lose your finger on base jumping expedition with 20 of your equally crazy friends or never get to the base jumping expedition because you lost your fingers years ago and have struggled to keep up ever since? Injuries are not only skin deep. For many, the loss of normal functions will also leave emotional scars. When the kids on the play ground make fun of you because you can't catch a baseball or even wear a baseball mitt, you will either boldly make the rest of the class feel lesser than you because you are special or you will withdraw from your peers just a bit. The former is a lot less likely than the latter.

If we become more aware of the little hazards that cross our path every day and take steps to mitigate them, we will have more of our faculties at our disposal when the big things come our way.  I crushed my finger in a rather spectacular dismount from a notoriously crazy horse. I wish I hadn't but at least I have a story that sounds a lot better than, "I crushed my finger hanging out at the back door asking Nick if he wanted eggs or cereal for breakfast."

Take care of your digits,

Elizabeth