Walking Backwards

The technique of choice around here on extreme icy conditions is to walk backwards when possible.  My ex-girlfriend taught me that many years ago when I asked how she was able to carry water buckets to the horses when there was so much ice (and I inevitably fall on my butt).  Walking backwards has a positional advantage – you are always leaning forward so the chances of floundering onto body parts that are less friendly to ice is diminished.

Walking backwards, particularly on hills or icy steps also slows you down and doubles your number of observations.  Sounds like a metaphor.  When things get risky we all should have more observations and move a little slower.  Preparing to fall in the best possible way extends the analogy, but sometimes there is no good way to fall.

Of course we watch the youth plow forward at breakneck speed, with their observations on small screens.  A neuroscientist was on the radio yesterday explaining that the human brain does not fully develop (connections to frontal cortex) until late 20’s or early thirties.  That explains everything…these whippersnappers are all brain underdeveloped!!!!

Maybe they should try walking backwards.