Micro Risks
A habit of wise risk taking is one of the most important pieces of a healthy life. We must take tiny risks and large risks on a regular basis if we are going to enjoy life’s fullness. Today I am pondering the tiny risks and the benefits they bring us. I think the term micro risks describes them well.
Three days ago I eyed up the food businesses isolated from my hotel by two highway ramps and a bridge. I was hungry and the gas station we shared a parking lot with did not have any substantive options that appealed to me. I mulled the options over in my head. I remembered it was near 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I remembered driving past a man quite out of touch with reality on the side of that highway. I remembered my passion for new experiences. So I walked the ramps, tiptoed past the man cursing to himself about being willing to mess somebody up, and opened the door to a strange burger shop called Spangles. I had a tasty and unique version of a cheesesteak and some of the best sweet tea I ever tasted.
A ways back I went to visit some family in Oregon. I had access to a car, an excess of time, and some energy kicking around inside of me. I found out I was 40 minutes from Silver Springs State Park. I thought about the nervousness of borrowing a car from my relatives, the small fear I might get lost in the woods, and the twinge of guilt for taking time to myself. None of them outweighed the opportunity. I picked a day, took a short break from the family get together, and found what became one of my favorite places. With some simple, almost tourist level, hiking I enjoyed 7 unique waterfalls in a peaceful afternoon.
Little risks like these help us find a life that is full of wonder and new experiences. They keep us from hum drum that can arise when we are overly ruled by a schedule and a routine. These micro risks also get us ready for larger risks in our lives, risks that are just as important for living well. I am glad I developed a habit of taking tiny risks and I want to continue this pattern throughout my life.
