Watch out for that tree!

How do you stop and conquer stupidity? I think the answer is simple. You use your brains to think, consider the options and make your choice. Most of the time a simple well thought of course of action is a typical antidote to stupidity. Stupidity is typically brash, fast. Considered thought should normally be rational and trained and able to remove the elements of stupidity. Daniel Kahneman spoke of the two brains when he wrote about thinking fast and slow. He wasn’t necessarily talking stupid when he spoke of using the fast brain, but I think fast, untrained brains are normally stupider.

So I have an ACL tear in my right knee and my doctor wanted me to rest my left knee as he thinks that the tear will not be total in the left one. So that’s a lot of resting the knee and not doing stunts for sure. Over the week end we were in Ahmednagar in my brother’s bungalow, in the middle of nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. The beautiful Indian Deccan plateau where there is nothingness for miles, hard brown lands and short thorny shrubs that have gotten used to the heard summers and the cold dry winters. More droughts than not bring a dusty dry climate to the area which contrasts with the flat lands with no hills in sight and a beautiful blue sky. Yes it is a romantic place. It particularly reminds me of the wide vast landscape that we see from the trains speeding through most of the Indian countryside.

It’s great for walks in the field and the vast open spaces for flying a kite. We did both. Sheer joy. I took my daughter and my nephew for both. While walking and talking and walking we came across a tree that looked perfect for climbing. I helped Jispa and my nephew up the tree and took photos. No way was I climbing that tree. My knees are completely gone. I dont have the leg nor the arm and shoulder strength to hoist myself up.

Trees always had a fascination for me. Every tree is nothing but an invitation to climb up, hang around and turn over hang again and swing. The branches extending and the odd rump allow for a magical unpredictable never ending experience. I love trees. I think I have pictures of me swinging form trees ever since I was five years old.

It was good fun to encourage the kids to climb. A little bit of hoisting and then you are free to jump up and climb higher and higher. The trick to having a great tree climb is to have the first branch close enough to terra firma. Then the rest is easy. Some trees with smoother barks have lesser insects and ants compared to others, which makes it an even more fun experience. This tree was perfectly nice and round and alluring. After hoisting the kids, I looked at the branch extending.

I looked at it and told myself no. Nopes. Not happening. I am not going to be able to reach it. Just out of reach on a ground sloping away. I am not strong enough and my knees would be in trouble. In fact I just told the kids that I may be able to climb up but how would I get down? It would impossible for me to land.

I took a few photos and looked around as they climbed from branch to branch. Standing under the tree I looked at them and wondered… isn’t that branch within grasp. No … how can it, you will land on your feet and you will get screwed. No, it will screw you. You wont even reach it and even if you will, how will you get off. And you will most likely reach it, try and grasp it and then fall bad. No jaimit not possible. But its right there, there… within your shot, at least try, Jump. You can do it. Yes you can. I looked at the branch and I clearly remember arguing to myself in the head and thinking clearly and then jumping.

I fell with my knee giving way and getting completely screwed. I was writhing in pain on the floor holding my left knee. It was bad.

When I reached back home Jasmine looked at me and asked what happened. When I explained to her, she was quite exasperated. How could you? I looked at her and told her. I don’t know how to stop this from happening again! It was a considered action. I knew the consequences. I knew the odds and I knew it was a stupid move and I thought through and I still did it. Yes. I don’t know now how to stop it from happening again. I don’t know what to do.

If you know where you erred and you know how you did it and you knew of it before you did it, then how do you stop it. Theoretically you know not to do it again but in such a case where is the guarantee. The guarantee is that you will do it again. You will have to train your mind to a stronger degree. To stop this stupidity. A much stronger degree.