We all know the statements imply “playing it safe” and staying out of situations we may not know much about, or away from places we aren’t familiar with.
When I was a kid we weren’t sheltered or coddled growing up.
We used power tools and pocket knives. We rode motorcycles and crazy broncs. We cut ourselves and mashed our fingers. We busted our heads, broke bones, and got road rash. We made bad choices and learned not to do that again, and we had to live with the outcome.
Experiences made knowledge, and the lessons from the school of hard knocks were lessons not easily forgotten.
We acquired common sense. Trial and error is the best teacher sometimes. Especially to a headstrong knuckle-head like myself.
I can’t count the times I’ve been told to not “get in over my head” and the times I’ve found myself in uncharted territory.
But with the way I was raised, we learned to get up when we got knocked down or learned how to play the game. To get tough or die.
Being a farmer, I naturally take risks. Not only with the markets and the weather, but with my own safety sometimes as well. Natural risk takers we are. Sometimes the risks pay off and sometimes we end up on the learning end.
Life is a risk.
But if we play it safe and stay in the shallow waters of the kiddy pool we never will learn to swim.
If we never explore the uncharted territory we will never learn to find our way.
Maybe I’m just a little different than most. But just maybe I grew up 200yrs too late because I find pride in being independent and self sufficient. Seems these days everyone wants something for nothing. Everyone has someone to blame but themselves for their problems, and everyone’s gotta have someone else take care of them. People seem to love drama but not adventure. Folks are just too soft and too sensitive these days.
Like I said, I think I grew up 200 years too late.
Life is supposed to be an adventure – your own story to write and to tell. Life is something you’re supposed to live, not merely to exist.
Be adventurous, be ornery and live a life to be remembered. Be strong, be righteous, and be faithful.
