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Oct 27

The Brevity of Life Demands Risk

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consider the risk averse lifestyle

Be a good kid
listen to your teachers
obey your parents
get good grades
go to a good college
get good grades
get a good job
get a grauduate degree
meet a good life partner
Have a couple of kids
Save 10% of your paycheck
get a few more good jobs
Retire in 40 years
Pass away and be forgotten in a few years

While there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the above, life to me screams of urgency. We are explorers seeking places unknown. On the other hand when each of the above activities are done with our full presence, they can be quite profound.

Life challenges us to discover more of it’s beauty

There’s no pattern to be followed for a fulfilling and satisfying life experience. We aren’t born with an imprint of how best to find meaning in our existence. Embracing the often uncomfortable challenges of the unknown is where the magic happens. You’ll never know how much satisfaction and productivity you can get out of each day, until you dedicate yourself to an effort you deeply care about.

There is an immeasurable richness of wealth and meaning unlocked by experiencing the unknown. Simply reading, or watching others recount their views can’t do justice to the act of living it. As much as I try to develop my imagination it pales in comparison to the long lasting memories and depth of feelings induced by the real. (Imagination is still the heart of my curiousity, and curiousity is the rocket fuel to my imagination.)

Make a small change in your well grooved path. Reflect upon how it changes you. Perceived risk must be challenged to discover whether it is a construction of our mind, or a true danger to our well being. Safety doesn’t often translate to satisfaction, and unfounded fear is the enemy of freedom. Ok, enough fortune cookie chat, have a great day everyone.

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written by Mark Essel \\ tags:

  • georgereinhart
    Mark:
    Truer words were never written. Well said.
    May I have your permission to quote you in an online learning program that is as yet untitled but provides people with the info/tools/encouragement to not wait for retirement to enjoy life.
    I look forward to your reply.
    Thanks,
    George
  • By all means George, that would be fantastic. If you find a good place to reshare anything I produce here, I only ask for recognition (nothing fancy).
  • Masood
    Hello Mr. Essel

    thanks for your good advises for our short life time ;)
    Mr. Essel, I'm a dot net programmer working for a company. I'd like to change our website's news section to seem like friend feed. I mean smooth refreshing for latest news, like ff's new feeds. I'll be appreciate if you help me by introducing some resources like samples, ebooks, ... to read and learn how to do it. would you please?
  • You're very welcome. I'll have to take a rain check on that news site explanation (I'd like to know the details myself). I can recommend researching web APIs for real time data streams. Check out twitter or friendfeed's API, or the soon to be released (or already availabe) Eqentia API. Another source of data could be River2 (Dave Winer's near real time RSS reader). A friend at my work and I were talking about the possibility of creating a hyper local semantically categorized news site. If he builds a shell (I'd like to help feed it), you'll certainly see a link shared here on my blog.
  • Masood
    Thanks Mr. Essel, for your favor and kindly guide.
    Sure, I'll be glad if you have a look at it and this is the IP which you can access the website: 78.39.175.50 but, the site is under construction and it will take one or 2 day to be available for browsing. the second mention is that our website is in Persian language and I'm not sure if you know Persian Lang (I'm an Iranian) as, you won't be able to read the proper links to click and check the site. any way you can access news section by this URL: http://78.39.175.50/NewsShow.aspx and finally: I know you are busy for yourself. so if you don't have time for guidding a beginner, I'll understand ;)
  • I can't agree with you any more on this one Mark.

    *Real Living* is existing outside of your comfort zone. Not stepping out of it once in a while, but moving out of it all the time. Most die a little more each day but those who push the envelope remove their blockages and live a little more each day. I definitely put myself in the second category. It's been painful at times, frustrating as hell, and stressful, but the reward is that I am becoming more liberated as I face and assail each of my deepest fears.

    This Is Living
  • Appreciate the your perspective Ryan. Glad to hear your are actively seeking challenges that draw out your best energy.

    I must admit I like your blog better than envelopes stuffed with cash as your disqus URL :D
  • Your argument about risk avoidance and the items you placed in the list are disconnected. I see nothing in your post explaining why getting a good life partner is avoiding risk? And brevity of life! A good life partner is probably one of the most important things. I agree with the theme -- take risks because life is short but your list stinks as counter examples.
    So to "succeed in life"
    Be a rotten kid
    disobey your parents
    don't go to college
    don't have a life partner
    get crappy grades
    ...
    I do not agree and I personally do not see the connection between risk, risk aversion, and the list. Why not add play with nuclear materials barehanded or smoke cigarettes? Nope.
  • I couldn't agree more about the value of connecting with a life partner. Would I advise most people to be open to a life long loving relationship, hell yes!

    I did my best to put the proposed list into perspective "On the other hand when each of the above activities are done with our full presence, they can be quite profound." The example I listed above is a list of what most other folks (society) instructs you to do as you grow up and older. There's no choice in the list of examples I gave.

    Our character, our personality, and our life story is formed by all the times we tread off the outlined path. Success in life isn't formulaic. By breaking each of the above suggestions in your counter example, you're simply creating another restricted path.

    The risk is in looking away from the guide book, and deciding for yourself what is most important, and pursuing what you find fascinating.

    ps: Risk scares the hell outta me, but the alternative is even more frightening. And of course, what the hell do I know about risk? I've lived in the same area for 35years and worked at the same job for almost 14. But I'm trying to shake things up.
  • wow. to me, those things in the list seem like challenges.
  • I've gotten some good feedback from friends on the definition of risk and it's a tough topic. The list was produced as advice we are given throughout our lives to minimize our risk of "failure". Choosing when to divert is the magic of free will.
  • I guess that is the bottom line -- we have free will and we should not fear change nor avoid taking a risk if it will improve ourselves.

    However, some people believe free will is an illusion therefore .....
  • I declare Shennigans on your last comment ;)
    Have a good one at work Jimbo.

    Wish you had time to blog, I bet you'd enjoy it.
  • georgereinhart
    Mark:
    well done.
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