I don't know if you're the type of person whose eyes glaze over when the Flight Attendant goes through her "Emergency Procedures" routine - but I'm not. I have a couple reasons I like to at least appear to be paying attention. In no prioritized order they are:

• I always figured that someone ought to be listening to her. She's practiced for hours in order to learn how to sell us passengers on our own survival. And it's not easy standing in front of a bunch of already irritated, weary, tired, anxious (pick your fave) passengers while wearing a non breathing polyester get up and scarf designed by someone who hates women, hates men more, and loves Andy Warhol. So I want her to know I got her back.

• I personally think the information could come in handy - in a pinch. I love flying. Love take off. Love landing. Heck I even love turbulence. I love it all. So I am in no way a paranoid flyer. I mean, what could possibly go wrong if you have a 100 ton hunk of metal and fiberglass plummeting to the Earth from 25,000 feet in the air, with a couple hundred passengers inside it? Add to the mix that most of them may be on some kind emotionally stabilizing medication or in therapy for suffering from panic attacks, aviophobia, acrophobia, enochlophobia, or claustrophobia. Now remember, these are the same folks who freak out when they can't find their car keys or the remote control to their TV. And now we're expecting them remain calm while attached to a dangling uni-sized oxygen mask, clutching a floatation seat cushion, preparing a mental game plan for beating their neighbors to the exits - all this - while spiraling downward in a 500 mph free fall? Yeah. Piece o' cake.

Many life situations come at us out of nowhere. Life catches us by surprise like that - with unexpected interruptions in our very exciting day to day routine. We can't know what might happen from one hour to the next.

Kids get bad grades, make lousy friends, and ask personal questions about our past.

Husbands come home with their "mute button" locked down for the night and wives still try to get them to make audible coherent noises with feeling expression.

Wives still ask - against their better intuitive judgment - if husbands "Like their new hair style," if "They look fat in this," if you will help them rearrange the furniture (again), and, oddly enough, "Are you upset?"

A sales person, clerk, checker, or food server gets snarky with you.

Your mother in law offers child rearing advice "Only because she cares."

Point is, life does this to us all. And worse. We really can't know what might happen on any given day. But we can listen to the "Emergency Instructions." We can have a plan that anticipates what sort of emotional responses might be required of us in situations like these and become determined to respond to "Emergencies" in a way that benefits everyone involved.

For instance: Waiting before we verbally respond when challenged is usually a great piece of advice in any situation. Two ears one mouth. Ask questions, listen, clarify, make certain of facts. Many a quarrel is stopped before it starts with a proper understanding of our ear to mouth ratio.

Here's another: Remember that giving into frustration accomplishes nothing. Bitterly resenting life's interruptions is like being the guy who breaks his foot kicking the bus bench because the bus is late. Kicking the bench did absolutely nothing to alter the bus schedule. It only cost him money for the doctor, time off work in rehab, and lots of pain between meds. Was it really worth it? Only for the fleeting satisfaction of the kick itself. In the same way - it's far better to accept life's challenges with a view to escaping intact than it is to lose control and lose everything.

Yeah it's an old saw - but it's true. "This too shall pass." Nearly all of life's "Emergencies" have a shelf life. Granted, some linger for years. But most have a pretty short expiration date when you look back at them honestly. They just feel like they last forever while you're floundering. Embrace that fact. You've made it safely through the previous ones and you'll make it safely through this one too. Believe.

And finally - have a bigger goal than "just making it through." Seek to become a better person - for others - in how you respond to life's challenges. Seek to become more patient, more understanding, less hostile, less pugnacious, more loving, more caring, and more, well - human. We really shouldn't seek to "just" get through our trials. We should seek to bring others safely through them with us.

None of this is written to diminish the gut wrenching experiences many of you live with. It's written as a tongue and cheek way of reminding us that we still don't have to allow all the other "Emergencies" to take us down.

One of my favorite profiles here at Care2 reads: "I want to become the person my dog thinks I am." I like that.

Become the person others "think" you are. Better yet become the person others need you to be. It's amazing how much we can grow in our own responses when we realize that our spouses, kids, friends, and neighbors need examples of kind, loving, living to follow. Don't just look for examples - seek to become one. Become a person who pays attention to what matters internally and externally. Anticipate that there will be "Emergency" situations so that if the time comes you can help guide others to safety while following the most peaceful and loving "Instructions" that you've learned.

wow, that was awsome, you are so good with saying things and making sence with a story, and you are always dead on! thank you for putting a smile on my face and thoughts to ponder!

 I agree, Debbie! Dennis has the ability to mix humor and truth and cause it to stick in a way that is actually useful. I love this post....especially because I believe how we handle these smaller emergencies....the ones that can seem to overwhelm our lives when they happen....prepare us for the big ones. Keeping my cool, listening, responding kindly, remembering, like you said, this is going to pass, well....I need help...and I appreciated this post a lot. Being the person my dog thinks I am?!!! I WISH! Or even being as great as my DOG! THAT would be a huge improvement! Love to all..A. Taliz

Debbie and Ann,
Thanks for your posts and for the encouragement that's in them. Blessings to you.

Dennis said:
For instance: Waiting before we verbally respond when challenged is usually a great piece of advice in any situation. Two ears one mouth. Ask questions, listen, clarify, make certain of facts. Many a quarrel is stopped before it starts with a proper understanding of our ear to mouth ratio.


I say:
I wish we could cross-post this everywhere.  I see so many arguments between people don't even disagree, it's obvious someone has a strange filter in operation.  Nice to see a place where most or many seem to really be listening and respecting.

~Blessings!

Momo,
Thanks for your very kind and thoughtful post - and welcome to the group. You're correct. So many here really have huge hearts to listen and care for others. Blessings to you.