Lifeguarding is a Lifestyle

I was pondering the word opinion today and it came to me that we tend to put much weight to our own opinions in what ever interests us. Wouldnt it be great if we shared our opinions for the common good or the bigger picture? Ok I can hear the warning bells ringing ………………………………..(hes at it again) no  seriously how many times do we analyse our days rescues and Lifeguarding activities so that we can share experiences both good and bad for all to learn from?

I know your wondering why I bought this up, well its simple I overheard to very junior lifeguards discussing  the days activities. Their was a question asked from one to the other about why did the old guy(yep thats me) wade through the water backwards and forwards before he went swimming?

The answer was I dont know hes nuts you know! I couldnt resist it and made the comment why dont you ask the old guy and so one did and I responded with ……………………………….”I was looking for holes and rubbish in the water so I didnt break my ankle or cut my feet to bits on shells”.

How many times do we over hear what seem to be stupid questions and then hear stupid answers without giving our opinion as experienced guards on practical experiences over our years of lifeguarding?

Just a thought from the old guard, think about it and respond next time you are faced with a similar experience……………………………ok back in the towers there are lives to be saved.

Mark G

I think for those of us who have been involved in surf lifesaving for many years, it is who we are and what we do not what we are and what we feel we have to do! If that doesnt really make sense then think about it this way, we all choose different passions in life and those in surf choose the lifestyle and then for most of us live it for the rest of our days.

If we all have this much passion to live the lifestyle then it follows that we should be driving that passion into those who continue to join and those recently joined to ensure they have the support and the enjoyment of all the fun things that we enjoyed dont you think?

I some times wonder when the lifestyle ends and the living begins or perhaps the living ends and the lifestyle begins? I am afraid so fellow tax payers and all round wonderful people I maybe losing the plot or perhaps maybe not?

How many of us can awake the morning of our paid roster and head for the beach with a smile and feeling of nervous anticipation ? I for one have pondered how many of us keep this up week after week and have to ask, do we ever get sick of it?

I for one have muttered those heinous words “Thats it I am never coming back and this is my last season”, but you know I did come back and I have each year for 37 years.I guess I have answered the question posed and that is , yes it is the lifestyle and it is the living that supports that lifestyle.

When you get sick of the beach and those on it, perhaps it would pay to find your piece of vacant sand and as the sun goes down reflect on the fun memories of days gone bye. I guess the meaning of it all is simple we love the lifestyle but need the living so why don’t you come back tomorrow or how else are you going to create many more memories to look back on?

Mark G

Albert Einstein once said “Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them”.

To all my fellow geniuses who whilst on patrol each day prevent potential problems for our beach going public, I salute you and I am absolutely sure Albert Einstein wouldnt mind the quote above being used to praise you all.

Mark G

I some times wonder where we all go after our last patrol for the season, do we stay in touch or wander off knowing its our last season and that we will never cross paths again? I have always thought that lifeguarding is a lifestyle and in living it we select whats good for us without a thought for the lives that we impact on and the friends we make along the way.

To be a lifeguard you need to be a very special and unique person willing to give up your days on the beach looking over those who swim in sometimes troubled waters. I think that as we look after the thousands that come to our beaches we as individuals need to also look after one another.

To know we as an individual in the tower or on the beach have the support of our fellow guards is indeed a very special thing. I suggest that at summers end and on your last patrol take the email or contact addresses of your closest fellow guards and stay in touch you just never know you may be friends for life?

As we say down here in New Zealand “In it for life”

Mark G