Risk-Taking

I posted a poem on my LJ blog a few minutes ago, but it, and the article in The Atlantic that inspired it got me thinking once more about how we seem to have become a risk-averse country and why I am not, or am no longer risk averse.

It comes down to this.

Life. Is. Risky.
Embrace the Risk.

Forget terrorists and criminals, other drivers, smoke and fire, floods, and all the things we think we've protected ourselves from, with border security, seat belts, police, fire fighters, smoke detectors, insurance, medicine, etc. It goes back to the Cosmo Moment.

When the doctors started talking about meds that would lower the risk of a cardiac dissection (not prevent it), I started realizing it was all about risk management, and that got me thinking about how much we emphasize safety and the price we pay for emphasis. I'd rather be free than safe.

And part of being free means taking risks. That's one reason why my daughter went to India as a high school junior with my blessing--it was a huge risk for her in all kinds of ways, but she knew it would change her life (and it did). For myself--I submit manuscripts--believe me, the failure of rejection is a very real condition for a writer, but if you don't submit, you certainly never will be published. Mind you, I'm not running back into a burning building for a kitten, but I do intend to go for a ride in a glider one of these days (although I don't think I've got the guts to jump out of a plane and skydive).

I don't worry about playing it safe because I know there is no such thing as 100 percent safety. I'd rather Live.