A while back, I fell off a horse (read that literally and without a helmet), blacked out, and forgot the trip from horse to ground. Its weird because to the left was a rock pile and to the right an electric fence. I came incredibly close to being mangled or dead. For weeks I’ve been brewing; trying to figure out how I feel about this. Here’s my dialog:
I should feel angry or scared or be upset in some way. Come on, I almost died! Any reasonable sense of survival should make me afraid of being near a horse, or riding in the car, or being involved in the myriad of dangerous activities people do from day to day.
But all I can feel is an awesome sense of satisfaction. I mounted that horse with the full knowledge that I was about to sit on a powerful creature with its own independent thought. One of the consequences is falling off and being hurt in varying degrees. I took 100% responsibility for my actions and I feel great! How many people take full responsibility for the situations in their life? Not many, as far as I’m aware.
Since this incident, I’ve realized that every action has potentially negative consequences. Walking along the street, cooking, driving, sexual intercourse; almost everything we do could be the last thing we do. Should I stop doing these things? Should I strive to live as safe a life as I can? Hell no.
Marc’s Life Lesson #10: With freedom comes risk.
Its not possible to eliminate risk from life. The best we can do is think our actions through and take responsibility, even when things don’t go the way we’d like.
That’s a very good life lesson. However, my addendum would include: Don’t take the time to calculate all of the risk, or it will scare you senseless.
Ever since the accident I was in 6 years ago, I don’t make a good passenger in a car, unless I’m in a back seat. I panic otherwise.
I agree. You can’t always take the time to calculate risk:reward ratios. Which is why its important to take responsibility, even if you didn’t predict the outcome.
About the car: I know its totally different, but there are times when I have to just sit back and close my eyes.
As a lifelong equestrian, I have been in a very similar situation (falling and lost some time) and it has taught me one thing – ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding.
As for every action having negative consequences – people should use their brain in regards to safety. Moderation is key.
holy smokes!
There’s more to this story that I wasn’t comfortable sharing at the time, but that I clearly still remember.
This horse was owned and stabled at my friend’s house. My girlfriend and I were there to see how things were going. It was completely obvious the horse was uncomfortable with our presence and the GF was trying to be as polite as she could that she didn’t want to take a ride on a skittery horse, but our friend was insistent that my girlfriend was going to ride this horse.
When I realized, “she’s not letting us go until someone rides this damn horse,” that’s when I stepped up. I knew this was not going to end well for me, but I didn’t hesitate to put myself in harms way to keep someone I loved safe.
That’s why I have this sense of satisfaction: I’ve been told my entire life that men put their lives on the line for people they care about, but I had only known of myself as a cowardly man-child. I proved to myself that I could be there for others.
I walked away with a concussion, was foggy for a week, and still struggle finding the words to define objects I point at (which may or may not be related), but I walked away knowing every moment is precious and that I can help make my world a better place when SHTF.