Safety Net
Living a fulfilling life is risky business, and some perceive that risk at a much higher level than others. Full disclosure: I am NOT comfortable as a risk taker. At. All. At times, this risk aversion has served me well, especially as a teen, a time when precarious behaviors are tempting and encouraged by peers. It kept me from dropping acid on the way to school at the age of 12 with the neighborhood girl I used to walk with. It stopped me from entering into sexual relationships with boys in high school who were just that--boys. In my gut, I knew neither of these situations would lead to anything good, so I politely said, "Thanks, but no thanks." I also had the safety net of my religion and severely strict parents. I could always blame not going to parties on my parents. That is not to say I didn't do anything risky as a teenager--I still managed to make some pretty irresponsible decisions--but these were carefully measured and planned, and I was still a nervous w...