I thought the new topic for the Life Story Writing Class would really test the writers, but some of them finished it early. I have been thinking about it since I chose the title and decided I should also do the assignment. The topic for the writing class is: What 10 people would you put into your lifeboat in a catastrophe? And then the question is; why would you choose those 10 and not someone else?
I found an article about this subject and the reasons the writer chose the 10 people to take in his boat were very interesting. His reasons were not emotional but were totally practical. He would only take people that had skills he did not have and each person’s skill was different than the other 9 that were allowed in his lifeboat.
His choices were for survival when the boat finally landed somewhere. He wanted builders, hunters, a gardener to grown their food, a cook, one with a medical background, a leader with a level head, and a couple that could follow orders to help the others he had chosen. His list did not have one person for sentimental reasons unless they fit one of the categories too.
Some writers in the class started or completed their story 2 weeks in advance. (I hand out the whole years subjects the first of each year, so they can work ahead if they want to.) They thought it was really easy to decide who to take on their lifeboat. Most of their choices were inspired by sentiment. I would have to do some serious thinking on who I would take along.
Most of us would want to take at least a few of our 10 people for sentimental reasons but I would want the ones I chose to fit both guidelines; people that could help rebuild our lives where ever we ended up. But, in a major catastrophe, you would not have time to think very long. So the plan would have to be set in your mind in advance of ever needing it. This is quite a problem to ponder because it shouldn’t be taken lightly: your survival would depend on it.
For me it would come down to the man’s thinking in the article, with some sentimentality thrown in. I’ve had people in my life that have always wanted help from me but never helped me when I needed it or paid back what they borrowed. We all have people like that in our lives, do you want them in your lifeboat, or do you want people that will help for the good of all? Let’s hope we never have to make these decisions in an emergency.
As I am writing this I am trying to think of 10 people that I would take along and I have only three so far; my husband, my BFF and her husband. The sentiment was the main reason I chose the 3 but they have many talents that I don’t have too.
My BFF’s husband would be on my husband’s list. My husband would have only 8 spaces open from the start to make room for their golf clubs. They would probably decide their golf clubs would be more beneficial for them than a couple more people in his boat.
I have 7 spots at least left in the boat (if my husband doesn’t get a lifeboat) and I will weigh the pros and cons of each person I’d consider taking in my boat. Trying to use the formula in the article I read and not let sentimentality rule my choices might get difficult. Who knew a simple question would be so hard to answer?
Now…. It’s your turn to answer the question, “which 10 people you would you put in your lifeboat”. You should be the only one to know who is on your list for an obvious reason. I don’t have the answer to the question yet; I am happy I don’t have to decide today who I’d take with me on my lifeboat. To contact Sandy: [email protected]
