The rules

Summer is upon us. The water is quickly warming up.

The beaches are "officially" open and, as a friend says,

the eggs have hatched and all newbies are scurrying about

everywhere. This is especially true in the lineup.

Yesterday I got to watch the same scene play out over

and over again. Inexperienced wanna be surfers haphazardly

paddling to the peak without a clue, endangering themselves

and others. When someone nicely tries to direct them

away from the main peak, down the beach, where beginners

belong, a nasty exchange takes place. Why is it that these

folks without a clue get angry when someone tries to teach

them the rules? What happened to the idea that if you don't

really know the rules perhaps you should timidly sit on the

sidelines for a bit and learn them before you head into the

game?

Knowing the rules doesn't only pertain to surfing. We'd

all be much safer and happier if we took the time to observe

how things work before haphazardly or impulsively charging

ahead without knowing the obstacles. We all can benefit from

learning a bit, taking the advice of "experts", and listening

to wisdom gained over the years. Don't be a kook in the surf

or in life. Take the time to learn the rules. You'll be happier,

safer, and healthier for sure.