Why I would quit my job if I won the Big One

[AMT]

first off, i would like to commend irieguy on his post. ill be in vegas in july and hope to run into him, hoping that his brilliance will transfer to those less fortunate (me [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]). Juuuust kidding, dont worry, but very nice post.

My response: Adding to the "cancer is the cure" theory, i have found that, in general, people who work closely with terminally ill people, especially in an emergency environment, have the capacity, at least, moreso than people in other walks of life, to see this happiness and come to terms with mortality, at least a little bit.

I am only 19 years old, and ive been a volunteer firefighter for over a year. The first time I ran into a burning building, I was very scared. I had been in simulated fires, I had administered CPR to someone in imminent danger, and I had watched people die in their last gasps for air and screams for life. All of this touched me dearly and deeply, and always had me thinking about the concept of life, lifes meaning, and what brings people happiness. It was not until my first fire, however, that I saw my life flash before me, and grasped what I believe to be the beggining of coming to terms with mortality, as Irie explained it. When I was in the fire, I pulled out two little girls from the basement, both unconscious. I was then told that their mother, who was thought to be upstairs, was still in the house, and me and my partner had to go back in and get her. We found the mother, my partner took her out, and as I was exiting the room and going down the stairs, a stair caved in and i fell to the closet below. I did not break any limbs and i remained conscious, but I could not escape the room. I had no radio, as it had broken, and the fire was gaining in strength (I wont use firefighter terms, it will just confuse people). At this moment, i can only begin to describe what went through my mind. I knew, when i started this volunteer work, that it was always a life-risk to run into a burning building when everyone else was running out, but it was ONLY as i lay there in that closet under the stairs that I realized just how close to death I might be. I saw my childhood. I saw my pre-college years. I saw my sister yelling at my brother for stealing her ice cream. I saw my mom scolding me for pulling my sisters hair, and I saw my fathers look of delight when i hit the game winning home run in little league when i was 12. I started to put this all together, wrapping it around my head that I might die right then, right there. I smiled. Everything that I had lived for for this short time finally came together, and I was content dying in that closet, knowing that I had saved a family, and I had made my own family proud of me. As I slowly ran out of air, the wall of the closet burst open, and team #2 came to my rescue. I was grateful, but I could not help but think that my grasp on happiness, content, and life was lost with knowing that I would continue to live. Continue to do immoral things, continue to get in fights with people, continue to drink instead of study.

I no longer feel this remorse for surviving (as happy as I was to get out of the fire), because Ive realized that in that closet, I came to terms with myself and realized that those little things in life, those little immoral things that people do, those little things that people do to seek pleasure for themselves and no one else despite knowing that they may be wrong, do not matter. I cannot begin to tell you how true it is that, instead of erasing bad thoughts and actions from your life, recognize them and come to terms with them. TELL yourself that these "bad" thoughts are here and understand that they are a part of you, they are just as much a part of you as sleeping, eating and seeing your friends.
I knew that I was happy, and that I am also human, and I do right with the wrong, and I play poker because I love it, and I rush to peoples aid because I inherently care without forcing myself to do so.

I do not believe everyone needs to run into a burning building, get trapped, and believe yourself to be at death's door to realize what happiness and content are, and to find yourself, but I do believe you will find how meaningful life is in your eyes, and you will take a step closer to this happiness and terms with mortality by interacting with someone who has already taken that first step. Thank you for letting me post this Irie, and I hope that everyone begins to find this aspect of life. GL.


-AMT

[Phil Van Sexton]

Outstanding. I can't imagine trying to read this when I was 18 or 19. Even at 35, it's still kinda freaking me out.

[Indiana]

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first off, i would like to commend irieguy on his post. ill be in vegas in july and hope to run into him, hoping that his brilliance will transfer to those less fortunate (me ).

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Ditto on that Irie. And I'll buy all the beer

Indy

[wuwei]

Irie,

I love the way you think. Thanks for sharing.

[good2cu]

[ QUOTE ]

What's the point?


[/ QUOTE ]
This post inspired Apathy and I to engage in a philosophical debate about the meaning of life. We decided the point of life is to get drunk and [censored] bitches, which we are currently doing in Miami while staying with DonButtons. We can also say with certainly we will continue to do this if we win the ME.

P.S. Excellent post as always Craig. I always look forward to reading your posts.

[Aleo]

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I feel like I understand a little bit about how to find true happiness and I know that the requisite knowledge will not be displayed on a 2001FP

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Your post in it's entirety goes some of the way towards proving this one thought wrong.

Wonderful post.
-Brad

[sng-sam]

to Mike28 and anyone else wrestling with these concepts (myself included) and how poker fits in,

I highly recommend "Ace on the River" by Barry Greenstein. I've just read it and I must say I was quite suprised as to how much time is spent on the philosophy of living life as a professional poker player. the morals and ethics involved and how he feels about taking money from Player 1, 2, and 3 are also covered.

As for poker content. I found some irrelevent (as I don't play low ball) and a bit of it over my head mathematically. But many of you would enjoy it.

Mostly I think I will reread the sections on how to balance life and poker, and still be a stand up guy.

Straight Flushes,

SAM

[Indiana]

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the point of life is to get drunk and [censored] bitches

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This is most certaintly not the point of life.

Indy

[Daliman]

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In my most hushed and reverent tone I asked: "Oh Mr. Daliman, what is the meaning of Life?".

[/ QUOTE ]

Kahlua and creams, my son. Kahlua and creams.

[tboss888]

Brilliant post, very well written. I'm curious, how old are you irieguy?