Life Doesn’t Just Happen… (A Message For National Safety Day)

I remember when an old friend once laughed with me about a new scar I had just added to the vast collection on my body. He happened to be with me when it happened and remarked, “Man, I swear, only you get into the things you do. At least you’ve got your war wounds to back up your crazy tales.”

The way he put it, I wore them as badges, given to me for constantly adhering to my personal Code Of MISconduct.

But then I thought about the age-old question people ask while enduring a supposed life of misfortune: “Why does everything always happen to me?”

I even asked myself that question once. Then my father’s voice ran a lap in my head, offering that lesson-learning response: “Boy, you bring these things on yourself.”

So I thought back on all of my misadventures: sledding accidents in the snow on not-so-safe hills, tackling one another on concrete while playing street football, crashing into a glass table (that one deserves a blog post), twenty stitches over my left eye from a baseball bat, burns to the forearm and back, knife wounds, stomach burns from a “jumping jack” (fireworks) detonating under my hoodie (now THAT was a funny one – maybe I should write about that day as well), puncture wound under my chin, busted kneecaps, broken fingers, etc.

Dayum, Kenny. Are you TRYING to get yourself killed?

Well, whether it was the result of a dare, horseplay, a street fight or just plain carelessness, I can honestly say…

I DID bring most of that on myself, if not everything.

Even things that have happened to me on the job. Everything from disciplinary action for mischief and defiance to catching fire while welding upside down (yes, there WILL be an upcoming blog post for that one – see how easy these episodes become articles?). Yeah, I’ve done that too. I laugh because in the latter half of my career people often asked how in the hell I ever became a Safety Director of all things.

Hey, maybe my past behavior prompted my career choice. Ever thought about that?

And yes, there were times when ill-advised decisions and procrastination resulted in unnecessary problems. But that was a part of personal/professional growth, or better yet, maturity.

So no, my life was never perfect. In fact, it’s not a path that many people would even want to pursue.

But it was mine. And many of those times, it was fun.

I think the most bizarre thing about my shenanigans is that I tend to be my own instrument of destruction.

You know how we’re supposed to have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other?

I swear, sometimes I hear the devil in my ear goading me with all of this nonsense and when I look to the other shoulder for a counterpoint, all I see is another doggone devil! He notices my expression of bewilderment and asks what the problem is. When I ask why I don’t have an angel he reminds me, after confirming that I’m “Kenny Davis: Soul #E52513983924”, that there IS no angel.

Anyway…

Do I regret some of my choices? Of course.

Am I still suffering the consequences of many of these actions? Yup.

Do I wish I could start life over? Absolutely not.

Because through it all, I’ve experienced the creation of a beautiful family, a great career…

…been many wonderful places…

…and made countless amazing friends who have heard, witnessed or participated in many of the blog tales you have read about.

So no, life doesn’t just happen.
Most often, you choose your own doors.

If some won’t open, you kick them down.

And if you’re like me, you just set charges and blow holes in the wall…

…then dig a new path.

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“…It was you that chose your doom
You built the maze you can’t get through…”
Flava Flav in Public Enemy’s, “Can’t Do Nuttin’ For Ya’ Man”

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I think of that line every time I wake up in a hospital, handcuffed to the bed…

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