Trivialities

There is often a need for curiosity, debate, knowledge… all focused on a common goal: finding answers.  We decided that we were born with questions, and throughout our lives we would seek the answers.  But those questions could be very misleading.  And, as some have suggested, the answers we seek will not satisfy us if we lead with the wrong questions.

More importantly, how much do these questions and answers matter?  At each end of the spectrum, there is a very extreme method of perception.  Some believe that our purpose on Earth is entirely too complex for any of us to understand, and so it is in vain that we seek such answers.  There is no fate or destiny or grand design that anyone can comprehend.  Therefore, it is a waste of debate, of knowledge, of curiosity… to even consider such things.  However, some disagree.  There is a reason behind even the smallest and most subtle actions, events, tendencies, and thoughts.  Every living mechanism on this planet has a considerable purpose, and nothing dictated by fate or destiny should be challenged.

These ideas make it difficult to compose a reasonable argument against either extreme.  They also create unbearable challenges when it comes to dealing with people from either end of the spectrum.  Extremists are often stubborn, which is counterproductive because they also tend to dislike being stereotyped.

Failure, in fact, is built into all of us, and perhaps that is a critical aspect of the truth.  Nothing can be overlooked when the possibilities are endless.

 

© Alexis Jenny, 2010-2011.

 

Risk-Taking

There’s a definite distinction between those who are risk-takers and those who are not.  We all play different roles in life, but we know who we are.  If you pursue risks, you defy fear to gain experience.  If you don’t, you respect fear as a survival instinct.  However, it’s not as simple as defining yourself as belonging to one category or another.

To an extent, exploration is key to leading a fulfilling lifestyle.  If we fear what is unknown to us, we limit our capacity for discovery.  Consequently, we limit our experiences and knowledge.  In contrast, if we pursue every adventure we conjure up, we put our lives at risk.

We are all subjected to basic risks of our environment (the commute to work) and our company (the intentions of others.) Despite this, we often pursue other risks just for fun.  Most of us are under the impression that life without risks would be bland, yet there are always ways to have fun without risks.  Our personalities dictate whether we are likely to have fun without taking risks.

Do we pursue more risks when we feel that we have nothing to lose?

Do the risks we take reflect the value we place on our lives?

Do we feel guilty when we pursue unnecessary risks?

Do the laws that are designed to protect us from risks encourage us to pursue risks out of rebellion?

Do our lifestyles dictate our behavior more than our personalities?

How much are our risk-related actions influenced by others?

Lots of unanswered questions.

 

 

© Alexis Jenny, 2010-2011.