When Did You Realize That You Weren't All That?

[Glenn]

For most people, there's a moment (or more) in life that validates your own cockiness, your own 'told- you- so' moment. It feels good... right up until you're brought back down to Earth.

 

Sylvester Stallone talked about exactly that recently. He admits that he became a turbo-jerk after the release and subsequent success of "Rocky". For the next two years he was, in his own words, "insufferable". Then he released a movie called "Paradise Alley" that bombed bigger than Hiroshima. As he put it, he went to the screening and there were exactly two people in the audience... and one of them was asleep. These things happen.

 

More recently, Justin Bieber has been using his fame to live stupidly, but he may have overstepped his "celebrities- can- get- away- with- anything card" when he was videotaped egging his neighbor's house. Yes, of all the things he could do to get into legitimate trouble, it's egging a house. Doesn't really seem like a big deal until you consider that 11 L.A. County Sherriff's cars showed up at his place, bashed in his door with a battering ram and served the Biebs with a FELONY search warrant. So far, the only casualty has been his friend who was blowing lines of coke when the cops showed up. These things happen.

 

Anyway, for once, he might face the same realities the rest of us do. Aw, who am I kidding? He won't, but maybe he'll learn something from all of this. Again, who am I kidding?

 

Today's question: WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WEREN'T 'ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS'?

[jbsoonerfan]

I have faced humility so many times in my life that I cannot begin to tell you one specific time. I think we all want to feel good about ourselves. Some view it as cockiness while others view it as confidence. I believe that confidence is a good thing. However, that confidence sometimes turns to cockiness and then reality puts us back in our place.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Let's see. More times than I can think of. When I miss wired a AC unit disconnect and it blew off the wall. That was quite a few years ago. Ummmm. I talked big about my pipe running skills before I took my most recent test. Every freaking bend I made was off. That may happen once every 7or8 months to me. If that. I still passed said test. Plus I redeemed myself a few days later.

Worst was last spring. I was at the gym while working in Auburn. My lifting buddy, myself, and two others were doing leg presses. We decided to see who could do the most weight. Well the other three guys were 20,20,and 23. I ended up blowing out both of my hamstrings. It took 4 months until they stopped hurting everyday. It took another 3 months until they stopped hurting in my day to day life. It ruined my diet and work out plan. So now I get to start from scratch again.

[slonezp]

Let's see. More times than I can think of. When I miss wired a AC unit disconnect and it blew off the wall. That was quite a few years ago. Ummmm. I talked big about my pipe running skills before I took my most recent test. Every freaking bend I made was off. That may happen once every 7or8 months to me. If that. I still passed said test. Plus I redeemed myself a few days later.

Worst was last spring. I was at the gym while working in Auburn. My lifting buddy, myself, and two others were doing leg presses. We decided to see who could do the most weight. Well the other three guys were 20,20,and 23. I ended up blowing out both of my hamstrings. It took 4 months until they stopped hurting everyday. It took another 3 months until they stopped hurting in my day to day life. It ruined my diet and work out plan. So now I get to start from scratch again.

[aquaholic]

What do you mean? I can tell you when i realized i was all that 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Yup. Crossed the phases up on a single phase residential unit. It was my 2nd year as an apprentice. Apparently my journeyman neglected to check it before we went to work in Huntsville the next day. HVAC guy threw the switch during his inspection, and BOOM!!!!

[The Rooster]

I can't recall the exact moment. It's been more of a series of reminders. Or maybe just one long, constant reminder.

One that comes to mind is when I was about finished with electrical school and I was rewiring the 200 amp panel in our new house we'd just bought. I was happily folding, tucking, and connecting wires for one of the neatest panel wire jobs you've ever seen. It ended up that way too when I was finally finished, but at one point during the job I found myself temporarily blinded with a bright spot in my vision, temporarily deafened from the loud bang, face feeling slightly burned as if sunburnt, and standing in the dark in the basement afraid to move, not knowing what had just happened. I had accidentally dragged a bare 12 AWG ground wire across both exposed bus bars in the box and tripped the main 200 amp breaker. Wire instantly melted, flash burning my face, blinded me, made a thunderous bang, and all the lights were out. Aside from not being able to see, that was a real eye opener. For those that don't know, it takes way less than one amp to kill you. I tripped a 200 amp breaker with my bare hands in the box handling the wire that did it. That was scary.

[The Rooster]

Ok, one more. Last summer I went to light the gas grill but it was having trouble. So after a dozen pushes of the button I decided to let the gas run just a minute. I reasoned that the lid being down will help to contain it and light it easier. Just before depressing the button again I lifted the lid slightly so I could see the spark to make sure it was actually going to fire. Then I pressed the button. 2 months later my hair and eyebrows finally grew back. Only took about three weeks for my mustache and goatee to straighten up and lose the curl. It apparently made a noise loud enough the neighbors heard it because they hollered over to ask if I was ok. I just replied yeah as I headed into the house to "finish shaving".

If I hadn't realized by then that I was not all that, I sure was reminded, yet again. I'm sure I'll forget again soon.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I can't recall the exact moment. It's been more of a series of reminders. Or maybe just one long, constant reminder.

One that comes to mind is when I was about finished with electrical school and I was rewiring the 200 amp panel in our new house we'd just bought. I was happily folding, tucking, and connecting wires for one of the neatest panel wire jobs you've ever seen. It ended up that way too when I was finally finished, but at one point during the job I found myself temporarily blinded with a bright spot in my vision, temporarily deafened from the loud bang, face feeling slightly burned as if sunburnt, and standing in the dark in the basement afraid to move, not knowing what had just happened. I had accidentally dragged a bare 12 AWG ground wire across both exposed bus bars in the box and tripped the main 200 amp breaker. Wire instantly melted, flash burning my face, blinded me, made a thunderous bang, and all the lights were out. Aside from not being able to see, that was a real eye opener. For those that don't know, it takes way less than one amp to kill you. I tripped a 200 amp breaker with my bare hands in the box handling the wire that did it. That was scary.

Holy crap! I know that scared the hell outta you. People also don't realize that electricity explodes. When it flashes. Its basically a wall of heat and fire.

My friend had a 8000 amp switch gear explode in his face. 8 months later when he came back to work. He would joke that he was one of only a few electricians if not the only electrician that tripped out three city blocks with his face, and lived to tell about it. He wasn't wearing his flash suit and has the scars to tell about it too.

[Fishing Rhino]

You mean to tell me I'm not all that?  Says who?

 

I'm not only all that and a bag of chips.  I'm also a beverage tossed in for good measure. 

[ClackerBuzz]

Every time I log into BR and I see pix of monster bass posted I'm reminded that I'm just a dink whisperer  

[slonezp]

You mean to tell me I'm not all that?  Says who?

 

I'm 2 fries short of a happy meal. 

Fixed that for you.

[K_Mac]

Glenn it is a funny question. I am not sure where being 8' tall and bullet-proof was replaced by the understanding that a man has got know his limitations. Life has a way of teaching us those lessons. I remember my first real job after high school. I thought I had all the answers. It did not take long to learn I didn't even know the questions... 

[A-Jay]

As a young man and prior to my enlistment, I'm ashamed to admit that my attitude reeked of disrespect to everyone and everything, including myself.

 

The first trip on the North Atlantic in December was life altering.  With the rise & fall of every mountainous wave, I felt more and more diminutive and completely insignificant.

 

As life has progressed and I opened my eyes, I consider myself every so fortunate to have been given that opportunity to serve.

 

"Confidence" is now buffered with an appreciated dose of respect and an understanding of just how minuscule I am.

 

A-Jay

 

 

[K_Mac]

 

"Confidence" is now buffered with an appreciated dose of respect and an understanding of just how minuscule I am.

 

A-Jay

 

Well said A-Jay. 

[tomustang]

Every time an idiots argues with me, can never win.

[K_Mac]

Every time an idiots argues with me, can never win.

 

That is an important life lesson. "Argue with a fool, and you're liable to act like one", is one of those simple truths that for most of us have to be re-learned occasionally.

[Scott F]

When I was a kid, I was always the biggest guy in the class. I seldom got into any fights, but nobody ever messed with me. That was until one day when I was in the 8th grade I got into it with a guy half my size. I thought I was going whip him good. He beat me up so bad, I was humiliated. Last time I ever fought anybody. He taught me a lesson I never forgot.

[The Rooster]

Holy crap! I know that scared the hell outta you. People also don't realize that electricity explodes. When it flashes. Its basically a wall of heat and fire.

My friend had a 8000 amp switch gear explode in his face. 8 months later when he came back to work. He would joke that he was one of only a few electricians if not the only electrician that tripped out three city blocks with his face, and lived to tell about it. He wasn't wearing his flash suit and has the scars to tell about it too.

Yeah, I was scared. Standing in the dark and afraid to move. Also surrounded by other things in the basement at the time, I knew if I moved I would trip and fall and get hurt. I knew something electrical had just blown up in my face but still didn't know what had happened or the extent of the damage. I thought maybe I'd tripped the breaker for the basement. I had to patiently stand for about a minute for my eyes to adjust so I could see to leave and find a flashlight. When I came back I checked every breaker and found none tripped. It took me a minute to even think of looking at the main. Once I reset it I started looking at the box to figure out how it even happened. I found two contact points where the wire had touched the bus bars. Both only had slight chips blown off of them, amazingly. Of course the end of the wire was completely gone. During the explosion I also felt my face being peppered and burnt. I'm guessing the peppering I felt was the bits of copper blowing up and coming at me. I'm lucky I didn't lose an eye for real, let alone being killed.

Electricity can do stuff people can't even comprehend. I'm not sure even the experts yet know all that it's capable of.

My dad was an industrial electrician up until a year ago when he retired. He's very glad to be done with it. He told me once he and another guy were using a meter to read what should have only been 440 volts. Dad was using the leads to touch the circuit and the other guy was holding the meter. Dad said when he touched the leads to the circuit it literally felt like they swelled up between his fingers, like a water hose taking on pressure. The meter blew up in the other guy's hand. He later said that felt like he'd just caught a baseball bare handed, even though they were both wearing gloves. Afterwards they discovered that the main line voltage of 4160 was being fed into the circuit in error somehow (he knows how, they solved the problem, but I couldn't tell you how it happened). They got lucky! Things like this happened all the time for the entire 26 years he worked there. The insulation on the leads and their gloves wouldn't have even been a challenge for 4160 volts. I think their boots must have helped to keep them from being grounded. Dad always wore his safety equipment. He also is, as I am, very religious, so I'm sure God was with him during times like that.

[ww2farmer]

Fishing wise................the first tournament I ever entered.

 

Life in general............just about every day since I turned 25 I have something (or someone) remind me.

[Redlinerobert]

I learned fairly early on in life that there is always someone smarter, better looking, wealthier,... you name it. 

 

I think one of the keys to life is just being happy in your own skin.  If you can accomplish that, then you've accomlished quite a bit! 

[Ratherbfishing]

Youth often has a way of taking people in one of two directions-either you are highly idealistic and uncompromising OR have no ideals whatsoever and anything goes-often to the detriment of oneself and others.  Mostly I chose the former-ultimately to find that life's experiences and my own many failings made such a high opinion of my beliefs/self untenable.  I tended to wave away, dismiss, or competely deny some of my own weaknesses.  That has been a tough old crow to have to eat-I can tell you.  I'm unsure when I figured out when I wasn't all that (or, even, the bag of chips).  Probably it was when I began paying one's own bills and living long enough to have some bona fide regrets.  It didn't come at once (it's still coming, actually) and there was no great epiphany.  I'm unsure I could've handled that. 

[Sam]

Interesting question.

 

I have never thought highly of myself even though I have accomplished many things in my life, starting in college when I upgraded the Men's Housing Athletics Program at LSU and won the Men's Housing Department highest award my senior year.

 

Never took myself seriously in the Army or Viet Nam although I got both the Army Commendation and Bronze Star as a company commander. No big deal. I just did what had to be done and lived through it.

 

In my insurance career I have saved my clients millions of dollars; had questionable claims paid; and given much advice that has helped eliminate or reduce pure loss claims. Once again, no big deal.

 

A lot of people like me for whatever reason I can't figure out; people come and sit with me at the table I am sitting at various events; and even the church people look up to me and call for advice. Go figure? I fish on Sunday as much as I can and miss church.

 

I fish tournaments for the fun and fellowship and don't care where I finish. I have had three guys win tournaments out of the back of my boat and had one guy catch his first fish in a tournament from the back of my boat.

 

Maybe it is just me but so far I do what I believe is right and so far so good.

[retiredbosn]

I am like fine wine I just keep getting better with age

Honestly the bullet proof went out the window when I found myself flat on my back for six months. I am thankful for that experience I matured a lot and realized that what makes a person successful is not money or accolades, but a family who loves and supports you no matter what. I have four kids and a wife that I adore, friends that would drop everything if I needed them. Things like that make me successful, not by my strength but they're gifts from God.

[Fishing Rhino]

It doesn't matter how others may judge you.  They are rarely objective.  Too many other factors enter into that evaluation.

 

I think Mother Nature is a much better judge of character.

 

 

NO, that is not a domestic bird.  We were about thirty miles offshore when this migrating bird decided to stop for a rest.  A picture is worth a thousand words.