6 • The Coconut Telegraph • July 2007 The Coconut Telegraph • July 2007 • 7 Meeting Interesting People in the Keys Demolishing Anger’s Hyperbaric Dick Walls, Resentment Story by Rich Peine

One of the benefits of programs on advanced diving Anger, when channeled confront the original source living in Key Largo and writing and hyperbaric chamber into the pursuit of change, of anger. When we cease for the Coconut Telegraph is operation for Physicians, can be a useful tool in our assigning blame, we realize meeting some of the most EMT’s, Clinical Hyperbaric emotional palette. Anger is that our need to hold interesting people in the Technicians and other medical experienced by most people, someone or something country. Dick Rutkowski is personnel. It’s located some more than others. It is responsible for our feelings certainly one of them. between Sharkey’s and Ocean when anger has no outlet and has harmed us. We thought I first met Dick when my Divers right on the canal. morphs into resentment that we were coping with our hurt wife Rachel and I were having I asked Rick Ford, Dick’s it carries with it the potential when in fact we were holding something to eat and drink at friend and colleague, what was to cause great turmoil. onto that hurt with a vice Sharkey’s. We were sitting the most influential thing Dick Allowing us to assign blame grip. To release resentment, next to Dick’s table, dubbed had done for the diving for the pain we are feeling, we must shift our attention “the table of knowledge”, community and without thereby easing it, resentment from those we where he was surrounded by hesitation he said, “”. tends to smolder relentlessly resent back toward ourselves friends and cohorts. He Dick started the use of Nitrox, just below the surface of our by thinking of our own needs. invited us over to his table and an -enriched mixture, awareness, eroding our peace Performing a short ceremony introduced us around. We spent which allows divers to make of mind. The target of our can help you quell resentful the next 45 minutes discussing deep dives without the decom- resentment grows ever more feelings by giving tangible everything from politics to pression necessary when using a wicked in our minds and we form to your emotions. You books we had read. Little did standard oxygen mixture. He rue the day we first may want to write down your we know at the time that we was roundly critized by the encountered them. But feelings and then burn the were talking to one of the most pundits in the diving world, who resentment is merely another paper and close your influential members of the said that this stuff would kill hue on the emotional palette ceremony by wishing them world’s diving community. With divers. The pundits were wrong, and therefore within the well. When you can find all the topics we covered, we and as a result Dick coined the realm of our conscious compassion in your heart, you never talked about diving. phrase “Science Always Wins control. We can choose to let know you are on your way to We later found out that over Bullshit”. go of our resentment and to healing. Dick is deeply involved in Dick has won numerous move on with our lives, no Free of resentment, we , which awards for his long and matter how painful the event have much more energy and consists of delivering pres- dedicated service to the diving At tention: that incited it. attention to devote surized oxygen to the body. community. Dick was a radioman Hanging onto resentment to our personal development. The treatment is needed by in the U.S. Navy, and when the Scrabbleholics in our hearts does not serve We can fill the spaces it left divers who come up too quickly Spiegel Grove was being pre- us in any way. Successfully behind with unconditional and get nitrogen bubbles in the pared for its sinking off Key divesting ourselves of acceptance and joy. And, as a bloodstream (commonly known Largo, the radio operator’s resentful feelings result of our as “the bends”). These pro- Morse code key from the Grove can be subsequent freedom cedures are done in hyperbaric was presented to him. He was difficult, from resentment, chambers, where the oxygen elected to the Explorer’s Club however, blessings can and can be regulated. as a fellow, had a glacier in because once again enter According to his Bio, Dick Antarctica named after him, doing so our lives as the worked for the National and was nominated for a Ph.D. us walls we built to Oceanic and Atmospheric from Florida International to mentally contain our anger Administration for 33 years, University. And those are just and have been retiring in 1985. During that a few examples. emotionally demolished. time he served as deputy diving Who said that Dick doesn’t director and was founder and have a sense of humor? Check Scrabbleholics” of all skill levels are invited to join the Upper director of the NOAA out the picture top left. Stop Keys Scrabble Clubwhich meets Thursdays at 1 PMat the Key Diving/Hyperbaric Training and by the table of knowledge and Largo Coffee House nestled behind the trees atMM 100.2 Diver Treatment Facility, say hello. oceanside. The Club is free and the members enjoysparkling where hundreds of divers have For more information about conversation in a relaxed, socialatmosphere. Weather been treated. After leaving Hyperbarics International, see permitting we play outside in the courtyard but we move Reprinted from DailyOM - Inspirational thoughts for NOAA Dick started Dick at 522 Caribbean Drive, or indoors in warmer or rainy weather. a happy, healthy and fulfilling day. Register for free Hyperbarics International, Inc. visit www.hyperbaricsinter- Please contact Meredith at 451-3664 for further details. at www.dailyom.com. which conducts training national.com.