Depending upon my mood and the circumstance, I can go either way with safety and security vs. adventure. I think of it more as a calculated risk. Life would be pretty boring if you never took the opportunity to pursue adventure, while at the same time the adventure you pursue must be such that the chances of a negative outcome are managed and the risk involved is tolerable.

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

Helen Keller

PLAYING IT SAFE

For me, ensuring financial security is paramount, especially when it comes to managing my money. I tend to lean towards a more cautious approach when it comes to investing, carefully diversifying my assets to safeguard my future. After all, no one wants to find themselves facing financial difficulties during their retirement years.

Because I have an enduring case of acrophobia (fear of heights), I tend to error on the side of caution when doing anything involving heights. Whether that’s getting a ladder stability brace when painting the exterior of my house or being mindful of vertigo when climbing bleachers at the ballpark, I’m all about not visiting the ER.

Honestly, I think a calm demeanor comes into play when taking any sort of risk in life. Conversely, the cliche says that to reap rewards you must “go out on a limb”, which clearly conveys that if you are not willing to take a chance, particularly on yourself, why would anyone else?

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

As human beings, and particularly people of faith, I personally believe we are created to bring glory to God.

The only way to do that is to go beyond what we think we may think we are capable of and learn from both our failures as well as our successes. The combination of experiencing both highs and lows in life equals wisdom.

Think about it this way… Our time on Earth can be compared to God playing with a Hot Wheels set, with us inside that cool convertible with doors that really open! At first, He sets us on the road, but it’s our responsibility to either navigate the loop-to-loops and venture into the unknown triumphantly or remain stuck in place when the path we travel is just a flat track leading nowhere.

To me, life is meant to be lived outside of our comfort zone. Not that I’m going to be going bungee jumping or swim with the sharks anytime soon, but I want to experience a life that leaves my heart pounding with excitement, smiling from ear to ear, and knowing that when my time comes and my life is over, God will look at me and say “Jon, well done”.

SECURITY OR ADVENTURE?

Perhaps the best answer to today’s Daily Prompt would be to say I need a healthy dose of both.

What about you? Share your thoughts and experiences with my readers and let us know if you’re a thrill seeker or prefer the calm in the storm?