Why I still like my intellectual mind. AKA the Ladder story

Why I still like my intellectual mind and the sense of humour of the power of thought.

I have been doing some fairly significant renovations at my gym. Most impressively, building a 60’ by 17’ wall, with ⅝ fire rated drywall (the heavy shit) on both sides and of course insulated with Roxul. All in all a pig of a job. The worst part of it being the need to use a 6 foot rickety ass step ladder on top of scaffolding on top of four 24 inch plyometric boxes on top of a piece of 3/4 inch plywood.

After what seemed like days of grunt work attaching drywall and setting screws it was time to mud. One step away from paint, almost done. As tedious as it is there has always been something satisfying to me about making that finish smooth. When I hit it just right I feel like a poor man’s Michelangelo.

So yesterday I set my scaffold, climbed up to the 15 foot mark, and got to work. As I was working away I felt something. Not sure what it was, could have been movement, ahh probably just that I’m tired, no issues, keep working.

Next thing I know the ladder, the rickety ass one, is sliding down the wall and the scaffold is doing a really nice slow roll away from the wall. I have a mud bucket in one hand and a drywall trowel in the other and the ship, she is sinking. Ok, not a whole lot of thinking time. I have to jump from the falling ladder to the moving scaffold. A quick calculation of speed of descent and distance and I jump.

Before I leapt the only thoughts were “ok, you have to jump, and I hope the platform holds.” My brain had already made the calculations of time, space and distance. All I had to do was trust it. It all happened in slow motion.

Phew, made it. No issues at all. Heart rate is steady and I feel kinda proud that I can still, at the ripe old age of 49 make it without injury. Reminder to stretch right adductor. It felt not so happy when I pushed off the ladder.

My brain had done its job. It did the calculations enabling me to jump, where it let me down was not telling me that the angle of the ladder would cause a sideways force across the scaffold which would push it away from the wall because I forgot to lock the damn wheels. Stupid brain.

Day two, maybe three, who knows, seems like weeks. Back on the scaffolding, This time wheels locked, and braced with five pound plates. Thanks brain. Way to keep me safe.

Up on the ladder again. I now know that the wheels can’t move. They are locked they are braced. So why the hell am I scared shitless. My ass is puckered so tight I can barely move. Let the dialogue begin. “Ok, you know it is safe, yes.”  “So why are you afraid? I don’t know.” stupid thinking. Ok deep breath keep going. Good stuff, not scared anymore. Great, do some mudding, up, down, get mud, get tape. No issues, almost done.

Blamo, more fear. What the heck. Fuck off thinking. I am busy and besides I know I am safe, except for now, dammit.

So what is this all about?

Just that it was amazing to experience the feeling of my thinking. Up in the air, from moment to moment, my intellectual brain certain in its certainty, the power of thought just f&%^%ing with it and overwhelmingly the realization that I did not need to stop doing because of what thought sent my way.

Good times and great to know Mind has a sense of humour.