In doing so, I focused almost solely on the positive aspects of my upbringing in the country, and I did so honestly from the singular vantage point of my own unique experiences, which were, in fact, largely positive.
Nevertheless, my rosy presentation was not meant to suggest that my family, friends, and neighbors and I were exempt from trials and temptations or struggles and accidents. Today's article shares the story of one accident in particular—an unfortunate and preventable mishap—from which I was able to derive a valuable life lesson.
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| Snow tubing is a popular activity in cold, mountainous regions |
Most of the tubes at the activity were regular sized tire tubes, the kind you would find inside a typical car or truck tire. There was one tube, however, which was significantly larger than the others. This particular tube was designed for an oversized tire—the kind you would find inside a large tractor or other piece of heavy machinery.
And you can probably guess which tube was the most popular among my peers at the activity!
Regular sized tire tubes were ideal for single rider descents. The extra large tube, however, was big enough for five or six teenagers to tube down the hill together. There was only one tube of this size, so you can imagine the novelty this particular tube was for my peers that evening, affording an extra exciting thrill ride compared to the single-seat, regular-sized tubes.
This was an exciting activity for teenagers and my peers had a good time tubing down the hill.
But as teenagers are wont to do, they became progressively more daring as the evening wore on. This led the more intrepid thrill-seekers among the group to begin taking risks. One such risk involved positioning the large tube at increasingly steeper points on the slope where the greatest possible speed (and thrill) might be attained.
In the midst of this slippery slope—no pun intended—an extra daring run was proposed at what must have been the steepest point on the entire hill. I somehow found myself roped into this plot and was appointed to stand in front of a post sticking out of the ground near the bottom of the hill. My job was to carefully watch the trajectory of the tube's descent. If it appeared that its trajectory was headed too close to the fixed post in the ground, my job was to yell to the five or six tubers to bail off the tube before striking the post at the bottom.
As I stood at my post—right next to the post which posed real danger to my peers—I began to feel uneasy. As I carefully scanned the hill and otherwise observed the variables involved, it seemed a high probability that the tube would travel too close to where the post stood. I was also concerned that the steepness of the slope would engage the tubers in a speed such that any potential warnings of mine would come too late. With this growing realization and uneasiness, I could hear that still, small VOICE of conscience within whisper to me that this plan was a bad idea and that I really ought to voice my concerns and wash my hands of the affair for the safety of all those who were about to embark on this foolhardy plan—as well as for the sake of my own conscience. Or I should have alerted the adult leaders to the proposed plan and encourage them to stop it from being set into motion.
But I didn't.
I stayed silent.
Not wanting to appear a fun-spoiler, a killjoy, a sissy, or a chicken, I chose to ignore that Inner Voice, rationalizing that perhaps I was worrying too much and that there was a chance things might turn out just fine. So I stood at my post prepared to warn everyone to bail off if they began to slide dangerously towards the post.
At this point, you probably have a good idea how this story is going to end.
Shortly after the group on the large tube began descending down the hill, it quickly became evident that they were headed straight towards the fixed post I was meekly guarding. And despite my screams to bail off, the tube was sliding too rapidly and everything was happening too quickly and loudly for anyone to be able to hear me, much less react in time.
As a result...
SMACK!
The tube hit the post straight on with an eerie "THUD" as five or six teenagers went flying off the tube in all directions. In the immediate aftermath of what seemed like a massacre of my peers, the passengers who had been flung off the tube after colliding with the post began to stand up, gain their bearings, and reorient themselves after the accident.
That was the GOOD NEWS.
The BAD NEWS was that ONE of the boys who had made impact with the post did not get up. Laying on his back in the snow, he was quickly surrounded by all of us as we sought to comprehend how badly he had been injured. Complaining of pain in his hip, this seventeen or eighteen year-old senior in high school lay motionless atop the cold snow.
I had a pit in my stomach as I looked at him sprawled out helplessly on the ground. This boy was on the varsity basketball team at the time and while his injuries were not fatal, they were serious enough that his senior basketball season was likely over; he would miss the playoffs and probably require several months of care and healing for whatever he broke or otherwise injured, which turned out to be his hip.
As you can imagine, I felt some responsibility in the accident because I had failed to more vehemently voice my concerns about the potential path of the tube. In hindsight, I should have loudly and clearly voiced my opposition to the plan, citing the potential for a serious accident—or alerted the adult leaders to our proposed plan and pointed out my concerns. I also should have refused to take part in the plan, since my participation lent tacit approval of the foolhardy undertaking.
I recognize my peers may have made the same choice with or without my blessing and participation. After all, I cannot control what other people choose to do. Nevertheless, my conscience remained pained, and I have sincerely wished ever since that I been a stronger and more courageous leader in the situation. I publicly apologize to Aaron Bronson (the injured young man) and my other peers for failing them in this regard.
I learned an important leadership lesson that day. When someone I know is proceeding down a pathway fraught with danger, I owe it to them to attempt to dissuade them from pursuing such a path; and I certainly shouldn't aid or abet their dangerous plans if they decide to proceed against my warnings. I believe such preventative actions amount to moral obligations—even imperatives—that self-action leaders owe to others. I regret that I fell short in my obligations in this instance, and am saddened and sorry that it led to a serious injury of one of my peers—who was a great guy even though he didn't always make the wisest decisions while tubing down a snowy slope!
The next time a family member, friend, or associate is headed toward likely danger, I invite MYSELF and others (including YOU) to stand up and be a strong leader of principle by seeking to dissuade them in their course. Moreover, I encourage you to always listen to and hearken that Inner Voice of conscience within that will usually warn you of impending dangers or even disasters that may cross your path or the pathways of those you love. If you get in the habit of heeding that Inner Voice, I promise your life will be safer, sounder, and more successful.
I know mine has.
—Dr. JJ
Author's Note: This is the 314th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 140th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.
Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 313 FF Blog Articles.
Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES.
Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS.
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Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.
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