New Reflections about my Big Question

- People spend their lives searching for what really matters. Maybe they try to climb to the top of their corporate ladder, maybe they search for fame or maybe they just try accumualte as many things as they possibly can. From birth in this country we are programmed to live a life of as little risk possible. We are taught that there is a "safe" way and if we follow that way - nothing will go wrong. But, staying on the boat doesn't necessarily mean you'll make it through the storm.

- Risking for the right reasons matters. I don't want to live my life taking the easy way out - running whenever I am faced with a challenge.

- I was rather young, I guess. Sometimes I wonder if I put half the effort into trying to do something that I put into trying to get out of something, would I be capable of so much more?

- The first time it was just that I never took risks and I wondered what life would be like if I did. Recently, as stepping out of the boat has become something I try to do on a regular basis, the defeatist attitude in this country regarding the economic downfall has made me think of this question. Suddenly, going to college doesn't guarantee a job, suddenly, we lost the perfect path our parent's gave us and we are faced with a challenge to forge our own path, to end our apathy and take a risk.

- When asked this question, most people will tell you not to take a risk. They'll say "Think it through." "Go to college." "Get a job in business" "Don't try something new." Risk has taken a back seat to conformity - not creepy, Stepford Wives conformity - just a conformity to safety. A conformity to life on the boat.

- This a time when someone needs to ask the question. Take the risk.

- My question gets me into trouble all the time. It got me into to trouble when I decided to go to film school, when I quit my job to write and when I told my family I was moving to California to pursue something impossible. But, right now, nothing's safe. So, I might as well try walking on the water since the boat isn't safe either.

- Yeah, it has both strengthened and hurt relationships.

- My question is all about adventures. Since, I started embracing risk - I have done things I never would've had the guts to do. I changed my entire life plan and I have met people and done things and had successes that shouldn't be possible. But are and have been.