Teh Chad

I was reading a little bit ago for a blog post I was writing. It didn’t really fit the purpose of that blog and I like the idea so I’m posting it here.
As some of you know, I taught people how to climb for almost eight years. Many people consider climbing a “dangerous” activity. Well, climbing is really very safe relative to other things like driving a car. I digress. Climbing seems high-risk even though our main focus is safety. As a result of my climbing and taking that “risk” to try something new, I’ve been all the happier over the past few years.
This is an excerpt from an interesting article I just read:
“A 2005 German study concluded that people who take above-average risks have a higher-than-average index of life satisfaction. Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that among business managers in the US and Canada, those who take greater risks are the most successful. More risk, more reward—not to mention livelier cocktail-party conversation.”
Ever wanted to do something labeled “crazy?” Go sky diving! Go learn to shoot a gun!

A couple of years ago, I decided that I wanted to climb Long’s Peak. I spent a solid couple of months hiking on super-easy trails near where I live. I did a little research on the trek and took a guess on how much of this and that I would need. Once the season opened for that hike, I picked a weekend with good weather and called a friend who lived near the mountain. It was most definitely one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but I would regret not taking that chance. I had an awesome time spending about 9 hours by myself and it totally paid off.
Doing that was a solid risk. It’s a relatively remote place, especially as you near the top. It was worth every step!

I play a fair amount of cards.  I enjoy doing that.  Poker is the most popular.  Gin is also fun as well as the occasional odd-ball game from the older crowd.  I think that it’s funny.  Some time ago, I heard that someone played for the social aspect.  I laughed at the time.  However, that’s part of why I play and I realize it more and more.

The other night, I was sitting in a game.  I was making plays and keeping the banter going.  It was a really good time.  There wasn’t a ton of booze.  There was no smoking.  It was just a good time.  We were all constantly heckling and bantering with each other.  It was awesome.  This banter and generally aggressive verbal abuse between guys is something very special to me.

I was talking some time ago with an older lady about it as she was inquisitive about what I do.  Now, she knows that I’m an office computer geek and could probably make a lot of money doing that.  When I told her about cards, she was a bit surprised to hear of my passion.  Well, my passion is people.  If I can get them to pay my living while having fun and carrying on, all the better.  She asked if I thought that was predatory.  I don’t believe that it is.  And here’s why: when we sit down in a game.  I’m there to take their money, yes.  However, they are there for the same reason.  There is no reason for me to feel bad when they are trying to do the same to me.  Again, this may seem cold.

Battle is written in men’s souls.  Give a battle and we will fight it.  Show a man a football game and he gets excited.  Show a man a rodeo and he wants to conquer the biggest baddest bull.  Show a man a war and he wants to win.  Show me a poker game and I will want to destroy it.  Show me a mountain and I will want to stand atop it.

That beautiful felt that we battle on, THAT is home for me.

Something else that made me feel good last night was a couple of compliments.  Every man likes hearing how strong and/or respected he is.  For ladies, love is what is needed.  For men, it is respect.  When one of the regulars in the game for some time sat in, he said to me that he was “scared” of me and would stay out of my way.  Then another big player said that he wanted the seat to my left (so he could see what I did in each hand and could make decisions based directly on what I did).  Then he said that he was also “afraid” of me.  I said something like “Wow, THANK you!” before basically blowing it off until after the game.  I have a small problem of letting things go to my head and I didn’t want it to affect my play.  None the less, this was awesome to hear from these two sharks!  I’ve seen both of these guys, not beat, but annihilate people.  It was a grand evening.

So if I could give you a nugget for your own life, encourage those guys around you.  And give them hell!  Just make sure that they know that you respect them.  It can be sappy in saying that you respect them if you feel the need, but make sure that they know.  They will fight a lot harder for you when the time comes.

TC