Do you want to be right or happy?

Some might say I am a training machine, others might recognize that I am just taking full advantage of the time I have here in Mexico, a limited number will say I am just collecting cards and the rest of you will keep your opinions to yourself because you just don't care or you are envious.  In all cases, it is really none of my business what you think about me.  My responsibility is to do the best I can, learn as much as I can and apply it in my daily diving.  I believe that to be truth.

Last week, Allie and I were driving to the ferry to pick up Anna; we were talking and Allie turned me onto an awesome quote from Steve Martin.

"When people ask how do you make it in show business?  What they want to hear is how you get an agent, here is how you write a script, here is how you do this. What I always say is be so good they can’t ignore you." – Steve Martin

I was moved by the quote and thought it made an excellent principle for life.  I have asked her to repeat it to me at least 50 times since I originally heard it.  It is a solid idea and my experience has shown it to be true.

There will always be people who share their negative opinions and take shots at you.  If you share your insights in a public forum like a weblog, editorial page or on the message boards, the flames and comments will be harsh.  But the fact is most of the negative opinions are voiced by a very small very loud minority.  Most of who are not qualified and whose opinions are based neither fact nor experience.

If you are executing the dives, analyzing them and writing about your experiences and insights, then there is really little to argue about.  And there remains plenty of room for healthy discourse based on other’s experience and insight.  Of course, that is predicated on the idea that you do rigorous analysis of the dives, the mistakes and the successes.  If you are sitting in your office thinking about dives, doing thought experiments and you come to your profound conclusions, it might be best if you give it a try before arguing it to the ends of the earth and tell others with practical experience they are wrong.

I make an effort to not argue with people online.  I don’t believe I can win; I am not ruthless enough.  I have never been good at throwing rocks.  In a deep way, I would rather be happy then right.  I get nothing from being right but restlessness, irritability, mental masturbation and anxiety.   Unfortunately, it is impossible to be right in the face of ignorance; you can’t change people.  I get everything from being happy.  It is the only thing I can control.  Because I don’t make my life contingent on what you think I enjoy peace, serenity, and freedom. The real twist is when I choose to be happy and I have the opportunity know deep down in my soul I might be right.

Therefore, I try to make factual statements based on my direct experience and insight.  I believe people are able to filter out the noise and get to the core of the issue and with any luck will be able to apply the ideas in their diving.  In the long run if you are honest and are really that good, people just can’t ignore you.