Accidental Chocolate Bar

Percy Spencer

"Accidents, try to change them - it's impossible. The accidental reveals man." ~J. B. Priestley

There was a man many years ago that worked for Raytheon as an engineer. The year was 1945 and this former WWI Navy veteran by the name of Percy Spencer was already known for his knowledge of electronics.

One day Percy was 'playing' with a microwave-emitting magnetron which was a device used in radars. All of a sudden he started feeling something odd in his pants pockets. It was a sizzling sensation which turned out to be chocolate bar that was starting to melt.

Through his reasoning, Percy supposed that is was microwave radiation of the magnetron to blame. This led Percy down the path of discovery which eventually ended up with the invention of the microwave oven. That very same appliance all of us take for granted and probably couldn't imagine a world without. All because of an accidental encounter with a melted chocolate bar.

So many times each of us have an accidental encounter with opportunity. It might be an accidental encounter with another person that turns out to be the connection to a new job. Or maybe attending a gathering of people and accidentally encountering your future wife or husband. A hundred other accidental encounters in life that present opportunity for something great to happen in your life.

But two things have to happen when it comes to accidental encounters. Two things that are necessary for accidents to turn into opportunity.

The first is that you have to participate in life. In order for accidents to happen, you have to be out amongst others, among other things happening, and risking yourself to the fact that these accidents will happen. Sitting alone in your home, not attending that gathering, not taking a rafting trip; each of these may protect you from accidents. But each of them will keep you from experiencing life's opportunities.

And secondly, when the accident happens you need to acknowledge it and do something with it. There is an old saying that "when opportunity knocks, you have to get up and answer the door." When an accident occurs, there is an opportunity to change your life. You have to recognize it and answer the call. You have to open that door and take hold of it.

In the end, accidental events are really just opportunity for greatness to occur in your life. It may not seem like it at the time. Percy could have fussed and complained about ruining a pair of pants, failing to recognize the true significance. When accidents happen, look upon the event as an opportunity to turn it into something great. Take your life to a higher level accidentally and then realize it was not an accident at all. Rather it was an opportunity answered.

Whitewater Fear

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

There are some of you that may be aware of my lacking skill in the area of swimming. For the greatest share of my life, I have feared drowning. In a previous post called "Help, I'm Drowning", I spoke a little bit about why I've had this fear. Many may call it silly, but one person's road bump is another person's mountain.

So I have begun a process to confront and get over this fear of the water. A previous kayak trip was a start and then this past weekend, my wife Laura convinced me to go with her and others to raft upon the Ocoee River in the lower, eastern corner of Tennessee. I will be quite honest to tell you that the fear began building inside while signing in at the outfitters location.

We chose to use one of the best outfitters in the area called Ocoee Outdoors. Our adventure was going to take place on the middle Ocoee River in class III and IV rapids. Oh joy I thought to myself, at least I'll die around family this fine day.

As we road the bus to the top of the course and I could see the rapids off the right side of the road, it just got more intense for me. This process of taking a raft down the Ocoee isn't a sign a form and jump in the river type of process. You go through a short safety lesson at the base camp, you get a semi-long bus ride about 13 miles up the river to the start. There is another lesson with the boat, oars and signals by your assigned guide. So there is plenty of time to think about what you have just gotten yourself into.

I was trying to think of every excuse in the book on the bus ride to the top. Could I get sick, could I trip and fall getting out of the bus; what would be my escape plan this time? So many times before, I was able to find a way out of having to deal with the fear. This time it just wasn't going to happen.

I won't bore you with the details of my trip down the river. The description of the rapids and ride are available at American Whitewater. But to say the least, the first rapid was a III+ called Grumpy which forces you right into the thick of things. From there on down, just over 20 more rapids to go.

And as you can see, I'm writing today so I survived my fear. I survived the trip down the Ocoee River. Have I overcome my fear? Not yet, but I'm working on it. Next step is to start those swimming lessons again that I quit taking nearly forty years ago.

Overcoming your fear of anything in life requires confronting it first. Admitting that it exists and understanding the impact it has on your life. It certainly has affected my life and those around me for many years. But now I can change my life, my attitude towards the fear, and so can you.

I'll let you know how the swimming lessons go once I start. Keep me honest folks if you don't hear that I'm taking them. And then send me a note about how you overcame your own fears. I'd like to put together a book about how we each have done so. Together we might just be able to help a few others overcome their own fears.

NOTE: Yes, that really is me in the picture (back left), my wife Laura (back right) encouraging the whole way. Up front taking all the water are my wifes good friends Sarah on the left and Rachel on the right. Our guide Valerie was fantastic; making sure we hit every rapid (thank you very much) and giving us a great tour of the five mile stretch.

Vivere Amor Accipio

You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn

You Learn - Alanis Morissette

There is a gentleman I met while in Phoenix not long ago. An older guy in his middle eighties but the abilities of a much younger man. When I first came upon him, he was moving items for donation in the 110 degree heat of Arizona. A small amount of sweat on his forehead, but moving better then most half his age.

He introduced himself as Garth and in anticipation of my next question, "yes, Garth Brokks was named after me....way after me." So right away I knew I would like this man, his humor and goodness. As we worked, we talked and I learned.

Garth lived for many years, working and struggling just like the rest of us. A job here, a new job there with job loss and started a new business that changed everything for him. But in all of that living, he had a wonderful wife that worked side-by-side with him. So much so that Mrs. Garth started a stained glass shop in the front of Mr. Garth's welding shop. She did so only because the welding business wasn't keeping her busy enough in the front office.

Their daughter now runs that shop and the welding business is no longer. It is sad to report that Mrs. Garth passed away some time ago. But there is still a sparkle in Garth's eyes when he speaks of Mrs. Garth. The love in his voice when he talks of her, and their lives together speaks volumes of a wonderful life.

In the various conversations I had with Garth, it was what was learned in life, the adjustment to it and the picking up of oneself that resonated so much. Garth kept living, loving and learning with each step along the way. When something knocked him down, he got up, dusted off the pain, and began moving again.

All along the way he not only helped himself to keep moving, but he helped others along his way. He continues to do so today, he is a great example is that the more you give to others, your life will be rewarded ten times that amount. He taught me life lessons during our conversations. He reminded me that life is a grand thing.

Vivere (live), amor (love), and accipio (learn) through out your grand life.

DUI

As your weekend quickly approaches, I felt the following video from Australia would be appropriate. Similar to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration here in the United States, the Australian Traffic Accident Commission is tasked with trying to promote road safety.

There have been many different roads campaigns both here in the U.S. and in Australia, along with hundreds of others around the globe. It bears repeating that traffic safety, buckling up, no texting while driving, and turning over your keys after drinking save lives.

I have to reminded and encouraged in all aspects of traffic safety just like the next person. It was recently that a friend from high school whom has been in law enforcement for a number of years sent this video.

It can be disturbing to watch at moments; it can be quite sad at times. But the reality of the choices we make when we get behind the wheel of a car have consequences. Maybe not this time, but maybe it will happen to you the next time. Again, maybe it will never happen to you.

Statistics from the M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) reveal that on average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving related crashes; a decline of 9.8 percent from the 13,041 drunk driving related fatalities of 2007.

So hold on and watch the video. See if it changes your thoughts if only a little bit about driving impaired.