This week has been pretty good for me. Even though my vacation at snowbird ended over a week ago, I still feel like I'm on vacation somewhat. My work schedule has been set up in such a way that I keep having these 3 or 4 day breaks, and some of them have days that I get paid time off (like the 4th of July...booyah!). The sad part is I'm starting to run out of things to do. I still have a month left of summer break! I can't be running out of ideas yet! I still need to go wake boarding/water skiing this year! It needs to happen. Hopefully it happens. I have to have hope.
This week I worked Wednesday and Thursday, then I won't be back to work again until Monday. It's crazy to have both Friday and Saturday off...I honestly don't think that's happened (minus vacations) since I've been home from my mission, which is a pretty long time. I've been keeping myself pretty busy though. I've been looking at apartments yesterday and today, and I think I now know which place I'm going to move into. The complex is called Crestwood Apartments. I'll be paying around $320 per month (private room) for a year including utilities, and it looks LOADS better than where I'm living. I'll have a bigger room too! (and a private sink in there too *shrugs*) I'm crossing my fingers that this coming year there I'll make some great memories. This week I've also been working with UVU and getting my Major squared away. I'm now declared as a Graphics Design Major. Woo Woo! (I'm also crossing my fingers for that one) So yes...a productive couple of days off.
Anyway, enough of the update on my life. I actually have a decent topic tonight! Risks. For some reason that keeps being brought up in conversations I've had lately so it inspired me to mention it here. Here's some quotes to start us off;"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything."
"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for." -John A. Shedd
"Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something."
"You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take." -Wayne Gretzky
Well I could quote you into oblivion about taking risks, but I won't. (Although there at TONS of great ones. Take a chance to Google some!)
The reason taking risks came up in my conversations lately is because the person I was talking to was afraid of something. Now, we all know that fear is one of the great things that affect us in our life. However, there's fears like the fear of spiders or snakes, and there is the fear of making decisions/fear of failure. I wish to discuss the latter. Too often I think we miss out of great opportunities in life because we don't take a leap of faith and take a risk in a decision we were afraid of. If not fear, it might be because we think we'll look stupid, or think it's a dumb decision. Such examples include asking a girl you like on a date, applying for a job, choosing a major (heh heh), telling someone "no" (or "yes"), taking out a loan, moving, etc etc etc. The list could go on forever.
Bah! I feel like I'm rambling. (this it why I avoid "topics" late at night). My point is that LIFE IS ABOUT TAKING RISKS. If we didn't, we wouldn't learn nearly as much, not to mention all the experiences we'd miss out on. Now there are dumb DUMB things that shouldn't be risked, like our integrity and values, (or taking the risk of "well I haven't tried smoking before, so..." and things like that) but I think as long as those aren't being compromised, why not take the risk if there is the possibility of a positive/rewarding outcome? Yes, I know, you're thinking "Andrew, you can't take a risk on every decision that comes your way...", but I say, if you give it some thought, and the only negative part you can think of with the decision is that you are afraid of it, build up some courage and TAKE IT! If you feel like you are one who lacks courage, seek to build it up so that you don't miss great opportunities! Take smart risks! If it turns out the decision you made didn't work out in your favor, or you did end up looking foolish, that doesn't mean you should stop taking risks. Think about what happened, and apply it to your thought process for next time. It will help your risks be smarter.
Think of the people who thought, "You know, just because I'm black doesn't mean I have to sit on the back of this bus..." or "What if I got on a boat and sailed around to prove the Earth is round?" or "Why don't I drop out of college to work on my computer invention?". If they didn't decide to take those risks, think of where we would be now. Yes, those are a bit extreme examples, BUT the example still stands. Never underestimate what can happen by having the courage to take a risk. Don't let it turn you away, but rather motivate you to take some!
Finally I'll just say in my own words (I'm sure it's been said before); You never know until you try, and if you never try, you'll never know!
Anyway, I know I jumped around a lot in there, but I hope some semblance of thought made it out there and helped you ponder on it a bit. If not, I refer again to the late hour.
I dunno what else to say.
It is true. A lot of people miss out on so much of life because they are afraid of what will happen if it doesn't work out. Well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but things turn out all right in the end either way.
ReplyDeleteI hope posting this made you able to fall asleep -- that's a lot going on in your head!
ReplyDeleteBut I agree. I think every single decision has an element of risk - some big, some tiny - and though I'm totally one to fear taking risks, thinking through the worst case scenarios helps me: What's the worst that could happen if I do?/What's the worst that'll happen if I don't?
Speaking of risks... and things to do -- Come up to Logan! We'll take you cliff jumping. :)