Wednesday, February 5, 2014

IWSG: Never Take What You Learn For Granted, or How I Got to be Superman (Or Aquaman) For A Day


Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer's Support Group gives bloggers a monthly chance to express their concerns, worries, and insecurities without fear of reprisal. It's a seriously big group now, and with well over 300 participants, it shows no signs of slowing down! I'd like to thank Alex for keeping this group going for so long, as it has proved wonderful in supporting fellow authors and the revealing of sound advice.

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Each year, we buckle the kids in the van and drive back east to visit family. It's been the annual summer getaway ever since my wife and I went all googly-eyes for each other. There's this magic about the open road; the change of scenery perhaps, or the subtle changes in the way people are farther down the road. It's also an opportunity to be somewhere, and be needed, when the unexpected happens.

Before I went to college, I knew I'd need a job when I got there. Got to pay the tuition and all that biz. Being a California kid, Lifeguarding was a natural fit. So I trained in the art of "saving distressed people in the water." Luckily I was hired and I was able to pay the bills for the next three years. In all that time, I never jumped in to save anyone. Not because I didn't want to. I just didn't need to. After I changed jobs, I was all, "I'm a trained, certified, life-saving machine." Going Superman to save a kid or rescuing a passed-out potential Lois Lane after an accidental high-dive belly flop - never happened.

I sat in my new office thinking, "I never did what I trained for."

Fast forward to last summer. We caravaned back to Utah with my sis and her fam, and stayed at a Best Western -- which had a pool. No lifeguard on duty, lots of people, and a son and two nephews who wanted to play Cannonball! So we're having a good time splashing when I turn slightly and see this kid with his head under water, his arms spread out like a 747. That's when the clerks inside my memory bank pulled up a file and told me, "that kid's drowning!" If I hadn't trained in recognizing the signs of a drowning victim, I would've pointed at the kid and been like, "Does this belong to anyone?" but I turned my arm into a hook and yoinked that kid out of the water instead. A very grateful grandmother came for him shortly after.

While I technically wasn't a lifeguard anymore, and was six years since my last certification, I saw the signs and was Superman for a minute. Or was I Aquaman, since I was already in the water?

The point is, we learn stuff. We may think it's useless afterwards, but you never know when that knowledge will be needed. It may forever help someone else or even save a life -- farther down the road. So the short moral of this story is: keep learning - you might need it.

Ever been at a place at the right time to help? What have you done that you never thought you would? Who's up for hot tubbing? 

I'm David, and I'm in the mood for salmon for some reason ...

32 comments:

  1. Every nugget we gain and file away can become useful one day. Good thing you were right there to help that kid.

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  2. I always say that if you don't learn something new every day then that day was wasted. Even if it's something silly or strange that you never think you'll need, because learning is a beautiful thing.

    I was at the right place at the right time last year to safe a man's life. I opened my apartment door to take out the trash and there he was . . . having a heart attack. He survived and everyone called me a hero even though I didn't feel like one. That moment changed my life for the good, and for a while there even for the bad. I was actually afraid to take out the trash or get the mail for over a week because I kept picturing him on my doorstep.

    And since you mentioned salmon . . . I have some in my freezer and I think I'll have it for dinner tonight. ;)

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  3. Everything is useful. I always look for something new I don't know because like you said who knows when you will need it. I have actually saved someone from drowning once, in a wave pool.

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  4. It is very funny that you happen to write about this for today. Today of all days that I've been told many of the things I've learned are cool but not worth much. Now I feel better. Thank you!

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  5. This is a wonderful reminder that the things we learn in the life journey have value. All things. We may not use or need them when we anticipated, but it doesn't make it Wasted Time.

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  6. How amazing that you were able to use your retired Super/Aquaman to saves someone! Loved this post, we truly can benefit from any of the tiny things we've learned along the way, we just have to wait for the right moment ;)

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  7. Now I'm in the mood for salmon too.

    I think it's important to keep learning and looking for opportunities to grow as a person. I'd hate to be stagnant.

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  8. It's so true that you never know when skills and knowledge will come in handy. Well done for saving that child, major karma earned!

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  9. I LOVED this story and the lesson you learned from it :0 You are my hero . . . and now, I want salmon for dinner too. Too bad hubs is already grilling steaks ;-)

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  10. Everything we learn in life is useful in some way. It's great that you were able to save that kid.

    I actually am having salmon for dinner...

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  11. I'm glad that you had saved someone with your skills that you'd acquired years ago. I guess your story shows how you never know when things might come together, how something you learned or did earlier in life might be useful for later.

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  12. No training is ever useless. All knowledge will benefit us, even if we never use it. And in some cases, you almost hope you never have to use those survival skills.

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  13. Wow, good on you, Clark Kent. I've used my Heimlich training twice and my son used his last year at a pizza shop. They gave him a few free meals in gratitude.

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  14. I never thought I'd write romance, but I'm actually pretty good at it. (To be very specific: clean, YA teen romance flash fiction.) The skills taught to me by sci-fi and fantasy writers definitely help there, even though the genre is different.

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  15. I was a lifeguard in college too. Never had to save anyone though. I'm still waiting for the day when my mad tap dancing skills are needed...

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  16. It's true that we often think that what we're learning or doing is just "passing time" or "not what I want to be doing" but it does sometimes come back to you. Awesome reminder!

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  17. This is so true. Everything in life is useful to us, no matter how trivial they may seem at the time.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  18. I've learned lots of things that I've never had to use yet.

    Well, except for the other night, when my daughter grabbed my arm and tried to drag me into the living room so she could show me something on the computer, and she wouldn't let go. 30 years ago, my big brother had taught me this judo move to twist your arm which will release the other person's hand. It's the first time I've ever had to use it, LOL. My daughter immediately yelled ow and said I hurt her thumb.

    I should interject that my daughter is 21 and bigger than I am.

    So anyway, that was useful, only it had an unexpected side effect...I thought judo was nonviolent, I didn't know it would also injure an assailant. :(

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  19. I drove a 16 foot Uhaul and towed a Ford Escort behind it for about 150 miles up the canyon. Was real proud of myself. Don't ask me to do it again though, once was enough thanks.

    Good thing you had all those years of training. You're right, you never know when forgotten skills/knowledge will be needed.

    ......dhole

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  20. So true,David. My daughter is a swimmer and lifeguards in the summer. It's a really useful skill.

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  21. Great post! It's true: you never know when you'll need some of the stuff you learn. At least, that's what I tell my students when they complain about learning all the australopithecines... :)

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  22. Great life story:) I know this is something that applies very much to authors as well as an Lit majors, i.e. can we use what we were trained to do in the real world? Fortunately for me, my jobs have always been writing ones...may it ever be so:)

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  23. Well done. It's tough to think quick in a moment like that. I'm glad the kid was okay.

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  24. Love the post. You're an excellent storyteller. You took me on the ride and even though I knew where it was going, I didn't want to get off. Well done..oh, and well done saving that kid (after thought...HA).

    Leanne Ross ( readfaced.wordpress.com & @LeanneRossRF )

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  25. I had first aid training a few years ago but haven't had to use it yet. I do worry if I'll remember anything but I'm sure my instincts will kick in if they're ever needed.

    I enjoyed your way of teaching this lesson, and I'm going to try and keep it in my head for when times seem tough. I'm sure I'll have some experience to draw on somewhere.

    Thanks!

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  26. Hmmm, I wonder if I will ever be in the position to help someone in desperate need of a pizza delivery? (that was one of my jobs - but then, I DID do what I was "trained" for there. haha)

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  27. I dedicated something to you on the HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY post. I hope you like it:)

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  28. Wow. That's crazy profound. And can also be applied to writing! :D Haha. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, David; it's appreciated. Can't wait to see you next week!

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  29. Good for you! And I love this analogy. In karate, we practice and practice and practice for the muscle memory--so our bodies will do what we need to do without thinking.

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  30. You're so wise. A long time ago a friend's dad told me, "Learning is intrinsic. Learn everything you can because knowledge is never wasted." He was a wise man.

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  31. Great story Super-Aquaman David!

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