“Groundhog Day” is a reference used from a movie when your days seem to repeat themselves or even sometimes the way you approach a task. Even though it is a comedy there is a message lying right under the surface that you can find if you look for it. For those that don’t know, the plot is simple. Guy wakes up to the same exact events everyday and as much as he tries to change events, the next day it always reverts back to the same day. Let’s imagine a scenario to see if you can relate to it better.
You’re excited because tomorrow morning you’ll be in your happy serene place submerged in a saline liquid that is trying to kill you. You’ve done hundreds of these death defying events and the risk factor has taken a back seat along with the bag of mangos that your friends are trying to get rid of. Diving is a lot of small tasks that you’ve performed numerous times with the same outcome.
The philosopher, Bill Murray, teaches us that if you start paying attention to the small things in your routine that are always overlooked for being inconsequential, it can make a difference. Still lost?
Here is another story, for those still trying to bring this all together. Imagine that you are all suited up, strapped in, air on, mask on, lionfish spear in hand and waiting for your turn to gracefully waddle to the edge of the boat to take that giant stride off the back. It’s easy, right? First item taught in PADI class is; How to do a giant stride. With one hand on your mask and the other holding your gear you take a step as if you can walk on water. After a split second of free fall the cool water smacks you hard to remind you to pay attention. At last, your happy place. After interacting with the gilled life you check your life gauge and see it is getting low. Time to surface and face reality.
Once out, you’re happy to be on the boat to share your latest adventure with someone willing to listen. You look around and start asking why the deck of the boat has this reddish water sloshing about. You tell yourself while chuckling internally, “some idiot got hurt again”. You finally sit down to take your gear off and notice that the water pouring out of your boot is red? OMG I STABBED MYSELF WITH THE LIONFISH SPEAR! One careless routine activity, such as a giant stride, that I considered inconsequential caused me to stab myself. Truth is, a few inches west and that spear would be called a shish kabob!
Mr. Murray teaches us that if you pay attention to the little things in your routine, you can make your world happy and safer. Even though you’ve done something a hundred times, slow down and pay attention. It just may keep you from having your dive buddies laugh at those new vent holes in your dive suit.
Elton Cerda
Sergeant at Arms