I plunged into the water face first and was yanked back up to the surface by my life jacket. Spitting out the water that had rushed into my mouth, I raised my arm letting the watcher in the boat know I was okay. Frustrated, I yanked the grips on top of my boats to make sure that my water skis were firmly in place. I refused look toward the boat knowing that my aunt and family friend Tom would be waiting to once again tell me what I had done wrong.
Unfortunately (or so it seemed), neither person waited for me to look over to give their advice.
"Emily. Don't try to pull yourself out of the water. Let the boat do the work for you. Then after you're up, then work on balancing and centering yourself."
This was probably the sixth time today that I had heard this same piece of advice and it was getting old - and fast.
I thought about what they said to me about how I'm supposed to let the boat do the work for me. So I figured that for this time I would just sit in the water holding the rope's handle and wait for something to happen. And that's exactly what I did. I started in my crouch position and stayed that way until the hand grip on the tow rope was forcefully yanked out of my hands. At least this time I didn't do a belly flop.
"What could I have possibly done wrong this time?" I wondered aloud, partly to myself and partly to my aunt Susie and Tom.
"There is a a fine line between trying to do all the work to get up and not doing any of it. You have to give the boat a little help by slightly bringing your butt out of the water, but you need to learn to let the boat bring the rest of your body up." Tom said patiently even though I'm sure he was tired of doing circles to pick me up after falls.
For the next try, I attempted to find that line. I raised my back end but I still held my crouch position. Success followed and I was out of the water. Even though I fell about a second after I got up, it didn't matter. I had finally found the thin line between wanting to do all the work and doing none of it.
Even though Tom's advice was meant to teach me how to get out of the water on skis, I found multiply ways in which I could apply it to my own life, especially when working with other people. Work groups are formed for the soul purpose of splitting up the work and taking pressure of the individual. If all parts of the group work together, in the end, everyone will be successful. If one person decides to take on a bigger load and do all the work by him/herself, the group dynamic is thrown off and eventually everyone will fall behind of the work-nut and the group is no longer useful unless the work load is split evenly again. The same kind of thing happens when someone in a group decides to do none of the work. Not only is the person who slacked off in trouble, but so is everyone else that was counting on him or her to do their part. Finding the line between doing to little work and too much is a hard concept to learn, but everyone must learn it at some point. Luckily, I learned this having fun water skiing before I had to apply it to real life scenarios.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Life As I See It
A- To Do List (aka What I Want to Accomplish)
1- To get a good education
2- Have a family
3- Go sky diving
4- Go on a Cross-Country road trip
5- Make a difference
B- Why? Why would I want to do these things?
When someone hears the word "education," they automatically assume school. However important going to school actually is, that is not the only type of education that I wish to accomplish. As Mark Twain once said, "Don't let your schooling interfere with your education." I want to be able to go to school, learn what they have to teach me and then be able to apply it to my life and what I want to do. Going to school can only teach you so much; it only teaches you the 'formulas.' But the actual application of them is up to me. So when I say that I want to get a good education, I mean that I want to take my schooling and apply that to my life and then learn from those experiences.
Everyday I come home to an empty house because my parents are at work or out running errands. Initially, the time that I have to myself is wonderful. I get a chance to wind down from the day's excitements. However, I soon get bored with finding various ways to entertain myself and wish for a companion to share my thoughts and stories with. But then, at that moment, someone from my family will walk into the room and relieve me of that loneliness. I don't think that I would ever be able to live my life without knowing that someone is always there with me. To me, having a family is more than just a number of people living together and providing for one another. My family is everything to me; they are me best friends, and, at times, they are also my enemies. But, in the end, I know that they will always be there to listen to my stories.
To everyone that asks me what I have always wanted to do, I have answered with sky diving. And with that answer always comes quizzical looks accompanied with a confused "why?" And I answer, "why not?" When you think about it, how many people do you know that have been sky diving. I don't know a single person who has. And, it's not necessarily the actual sky diving that I want to do (even though I believe that it would be an AMAZING experience), it's that fact that its a different and unique opportunity that not many people can claim to have done. I am one of those people that likes to try new things and experience the thrill and excitement that comes along with it.
A couple months ago, my friend and I were talking about everything that this country (the United States) has to offer and instead of us going out to see it, there we were sitting in a booth at McDonald's. That's when we decided that we needed to take a cross-country road trip. We decided that we didn't necessarily have to do it together because realistically when would we ever be able to? But, we both felt that it was something we need to experience. I have lived in the Northeast, specifically Connecticut, for my entire life. And most places that I travel to, or go to regularly, are all in the Northeast as well. I like to think that I am a well-rounded and open minded person, but how can I be when I have never left my sheltered home in the Northeast? There are so many different types of people, food, cultures, and customs out there in my own country that I will never get to be a part of if I don't leave. I believe that for me to claim well-roundness that I need to experience life outside of the safe nest of the Northeast.
One of the final things that I would like to accomplish is to make a difference. I realize that this idea is cliche and everyone claims to have this same goal, but I, however, don't want to do it in the standard fashion. What I should say is, I don't need to have my name remembered by everyone that succeeds me or have a building named after me or even start a life-changing organization. All I need to accomplish to make a difference is to know that at some point during my life I helped to make someones life better. Whether it be by a piece of advice that I have given them or because of the smile that I gave to someone walking down the street.
C- Why do these things matter? What does humanity as a whole gain from these accomplishments?
Humanity, as a whole, benefits from all the underlying ideas of these accomplishments, not necessarily the actual deed itself.
Take sky diving for example. Most people probably won't ever get the chance to go sky diving but they will get the opportunity to experience new things and widen their horizons. You don't need to jump from a plane to experience new things. All you need to do is be willing to throw yourself out there and look for opportunities. And when one does come, don't pass it up because who knows if it is ever going to come again.
Its the same thing with cross-country road trip. Again, most people won't get the chance to travel to a wide variety of places, but if they are open-minded about different cultures and willing to participate in different social events they will still get the same learning opportunity. Humanity as a whole needs to get rid of the "I'm superior" attitude that it has. If it can do this, people will realize that other cultures have so much to offer. And by making yourself acquainted with the various types or traditions that are out there you will have a better appreciation and understanding of your own culture.
Not only are the concepts that are behind sky diving and traveling important to humanity, but so is getting an education. In the United States, everyone has the opportunity to go to school and receive a diploma. However, not everyone takes advantage of this opportunity, and even those that do don't follow the same path. What a person chooses to learn or not to learn is based on their interests. You don't need the same amount of schooling to become a carpenter as you would need to become a doctor. But both professions are incredibly important. It's about what you do with what you learn, whether you are learning inside a classroom or learning from life experiences. How much actual schooling you get doesn't matter as much as what you do with your knowledge.
Education and the ability to make a difference go hand in hand. If you are able to use what you know to help someone else, then you have made a difference, even if what you were able to give was small. If all of humanity took their knowledge and used it to help someone else out instead of just using it for their own gain, our world would be much better off. Humanity as a whole doesn't need to solve every single problem or make life perfect for everyone to make a difference. All someone has to do is show kindness and willingness to share your knowledge with others.
Many people will ask why having a family is important because some never get married and live by themselves their whole lives. However, even though they may not have a blood related family close by them they still find companionship. Whether this companionship is through co-workers, life-long friends, or even pets. No one is ever truly alone in life even though it seems that way sometimes. Part of being a human is the need for interaction. The only thing that is different is the way this need is fulfilled.
1- To get a good education
2- Have a family
3- Go sky diving
4- Go on a Cross-Country road trip
5- Make a difference
B- Why? Why would I want to do these things?
When someone hears the word "education," they automatically assume school. However important going to school actually is, that is not the only type of education that I wish to accomplish. As Mark Twain once said, "Don't let your schooling interfere with your education." I want to be able to go to school, learn what they have to teach me and then be able to apply it to my life and what I want to do. Going to school can only teach you so much; it only teaches you the 'formulas.' But the actual application of them is up to me. So when I say that I want to get a good education, I mean that I want to take my schooling and apply that to my life and then learn from those experiences.
Everyday I come home to an empty house because my parents are at work or out running errands. Initially, the time that I have to myself is wonderful. I get a chance to wind down from the day's excitements. However, I soon get bored with finding various ways to entertain myself and wish for a companion to share my thoughts and stories with. But then, at that moment, someone from my family will walk into the room and relieve me of that loneliness. I don't think that I would ever be able to live my life without knowing that someone is always there with me. To me, having a family is more than just a number of people living together and providing for one another. My family is everything to me; they are me best friends, and, at times, they are also my enemies. But, in the end, I know that they will always be there to listen to my stories.
To everyone that asks me what I have always wanted to do, I have answered with sky diving. And with that answer always comes quizzical looks accompanied with a confused "why?" And I answer, "why not?" When you think about it, how many people do you know that have been sky diving. I don't know a single person who has. And, it's not necessarily the actual sky diving that I want to do (even though I believe that it would be an AMAZING experience), it's that fact that its a different and unique opportunity that not many people can claim to have done. I am one of those people that likes to try new things and experience the thrill and excitement that comes along with it.
A couple months ago, my friend and I were talking about everything that this country (the United States) has to offer and instead of us going out to see it, there we were sitting in a booth at McDonald's. That's when we decided that we needed to take a cross-country road trip. We decided that we didn't necessarily have to do it together because realistically when would we ever be able to? But, we both felt that it was something we need to experience. I have lived in the Northeast, specifically Connecticut, for my entire life. And most places that I travel to, or go to regularly, are all in the Northeast as well. I like to think that I am a well-rounded and open minded person, but how can I be when I have never left my sheltered home in the Northeast? There are so many different types of people, food, cultures, and customs out there in my own country that I will never get to be a part of if I don't leave. I believe that for me to claim well-roundness that I need to experience life outside of the safe nest of the Northeast.
One of the final things that I would like to accomplish is to make a difference. I realize that this idea is cliche and everyone claims to have this same goal, but I, however, don't want to do it in the standard fashion. What I should say is, I don't need to have my name remembered by everyone that succeeds me or have a building named after me or even start a life-changing organization. All I need to accomplish to make a difference is to know that at some point during my life I helped to make someones life better. Whether it be by a piece of advice that I have given them or because of the smile that I gave to someone walking down the street.
C- Why do these things matter? What does humanity as a whole gain from these accomplishments?
Humanity, as a whole, benefits from all the underlying ideas of these accomplishments, not necessarily the actual deed itself.
Take sky diving for example. Most people probably won't ever get the chance to go sky diving but they will get the opportunity to experience new things and widen their horizons. You don't need to jump from a plane to experience new things. All you need to do is be willing to throw yourself out there and look for opportunities. And when one does come, don't pass it up because who knows if it is ever going to come again.
Its the same thing with cross-country road trip. Again, most people won't get the chance to travel to a wide variety of places, but if they are open-minded about different cultures and willing to participate in different social events they will still get the same learning opportunity. Humanity as a whole needs to get rid of the "I'm superior" attitude that it has. If it can do this, people will realize that other cultures have so much to offer. And by making yourself acquainted with the various types or traditions that are out there you will have a better appreciation and understanding of your own culture.
Not only are the concepts that are behind sky diving and traveling important to humanity, but so is getting an education. In the United States, everyone has the opportunity to go to school and receive a diploma. However, not everyone takes advantage of this opportunity, and even those that do don't follow the same path. What a person chooses to learn or not to learn is based on their interests. You don't need the same amount of schooling to become a carpenter as you would need to become a doctor. But both professions are incredibly important. It's about what you do with what you learn, whether you are learning inside a classroom or learning from life experiences. How much actual schooling you get doesn't matter as much as what you do with your knowledge.
Education and the ability to make a difference go hand in hand. If you are able to use what you know to help someone else, then you have made a difference, even if what you were able to give was small. If all of humanity took their knowledge and used it to help someone else out instead of just using it for their own gain, our world would be much better off. Humanity as a whole doesn't need to solve every single problem or make life perfect for everyone to make a difference. All someone has to do is show kindness and willingness to share your knowledge with others.
Many people will ask why having a family is important because some never get married and live by themselves their whole lives. However, even though they may not have a blood related family close by them they still find companionship. Whether this companionship is through co-workers, life-long friends, or even pets. No one is ever truly alone in life even though it seems that way sometimes. Part of being a human is the need for interaction. The only thing that is different is the way this need is fulfilled.
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