|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Ken James (no email)
Date: Fri Sep 03 2004 - 16:29:02 EDT
>
> I don't expect many of you in this group to understand this next
> statement.
>
> I do not have a death-wish
I have done more in my
> lifetime than probably and 5 or 10 people collectively.
>
Why would I not be able to understand your statement(s)? They seem clear
enough.
And I am not meaning to suggested you are un-balanced or sucicidial, however
it IS very common for people to over estimate their own ability in the face
of new challanges...not my opinion, proven scientific fact. We ALL do it.
As far as the rest of it...well, I guess we come from very different
backgrounds. I have had to scratch for every little thing I ever had, but I
have managed to survive and even do OK from time to time. I also have had
some personal challanges and I have at times met my limits. I know
first-hand that we all have our strengths and weaknesses. I also think that
anything that is really worth doing takes time and effort. [If you KNEW you
could win, it wouldn't be a race! ;-)] I now have a small company that
developes new technologies for energy efficient applications. No money to
speak of, but that may come later (I would like to cruise the S Pac for a
decade or so someday myself). So I am neither perfectly contented or
desperately dis-satisfied with my life so far. Like most, I also have
un-realised goals, and my hair is goingl grey.
I have seen almost every Ocean in the world in almost any circumstances you
can imagine, and some you can't. I have seen solid green water over the 0-8
level of a ship, water that removed 1/4 inch welded plates from the deck
with little trace they had ever been there. I was on a 500 ft ship that was
beaten so severly it was bent sideways from stem to stern! I have made
mistakes of judgement that resulted in circumstances that could have easily
lost me and my boat, bad judgements that at the time seemed perfectly
resonable. Sailing can be very humbeling. I have learned at least a bit, and
I have profited by the experiances of others. I would not say I have done
more than others (or not), because I don't want to be judgemental...but I
HAVE "been around the block" and I know "what's there".
When I raced bicycles, we would get a new crop of beginners every year, some
of whom I personaly trained. The first mistake they almost to a person made
was assuming...assuming they could win a race right away, assuming they knew
what to do, assuming they knew how to prepare, ect. ect. Those bubbles had
to be popped before they could develope. Sometimes it was a severe blow to
an ego, but worse yet was when the novice refused to aknowledge his short
comings, as he was then limiting his future potential at the least. It takes
at least two seasons for a racer to become competitive, and most take quite
a bit longer. Those who progressed the fastest were usually the ones who had
the talent but knew they needed guidance and were willing to accept it.
Stubbornness must be coupled to knowledge and skill to succeed...then it
becomes tenacity.
I have also taught a number of people how to sail. Even though you may
dis-regard my qualifing cruising sailing as an "art", it is just that (
"skill acquired by experience, study, or observation")... So are things like
being a (good) electronics technician, ect. I have never seen a really good
technician right out of school. And yes, I would say that being a good
technician is an "art" also. (Some of the "old farts" I knew when I was
younger knew more about that "art" than I ever will.) I would differentiat
"learning how to sail" from "blue water cruising" as they are two different
things.
I agree it is best to utilize your time as well as you can...but there are
always costs. You can pay now, or you may pay later, but if you want to
learn, grow, and develope, there are costs. Time spent is often one of them.
There is nothing wrong with "learn while doing", but that might mean
starting with less challenging short term goals and building to the bigger
ones. You could start with costal cruisng, then make longer and longer hops.
That would be sensiable. Then you can in a way "have your cake and eat it
too". As long as you learn.
There is a terrible trap we have created. It is called by various names,
"expectations", "scheduales", "comfort", "convienance", "securrity", and
others. It all results in us seeing things as we want, not as they are.-Ken
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/A1TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/world-cruising/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|