A few years ago, I sustained minor injuries while training for a runDisney Half-Marathon. At a blind corner, my running partner and I moved eastbound along the southern sidewalk on North Park Way toward Boundary Street as a bicyclist sped downhill on northbound 33rd Street.
I was closest to the cyclist and did not, in fact, see him as he hit me. I only felt raging pain in my right calf as his front tire connected. Screaming as I pirouetted 360 degrees in the air, I landed on my left elbow and hand. Still not knowing what had happened, I heard someone else in pain, jumped up and went to the cyclist, who had landed in the gutter.
Once we assured one another that we were all well enough to continue our day (though I gotta be honest, I’m not sure if the man who hit me was truly OK or if he just wanted to get out of there) I lamented to my running partner, John.
“If only we hadn’t stopped at 32nd and University for me to blow my nose; we would have avoided that.”
“Yes, sure, “ John agreed. “And if the light hadn’t been so long. And if we had run on Bancroft as we usually do.”
“Or if we had turned at the alley (as my intuition, that I ignored, had nudged me to do). Or if my contacts hadn’t bothered me this morning, causing us to leave late.”
“If. If. If. You can’t do that to yourself.”
“Of course not,” I replied. “And I don’t think I’m doing what you think I’m doing.”
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I was not beating myself up for blowing my nose or trying to correct the burning of my contact lenses.
I was noting how in the moment, seemingly small, insignificant actions can compound into greater consequences.
How do the paths we choose – the right turn here, the dead end there – lead us along? Are they in fact insignificant? Ought we to give our choices greater weight? How much does it matter?
We cannot obsess over every instant. Would we ever make it through the day engrossed in the number of toilet paper squares or toothpaste we use? Or do even those things add up?
Where does our investment matter? Like a financial portfolio, we are a grouping of assets. How do we manage our resources so that our needs are met and peace of mind engaged?
Meeting needs and engaging peace of mind are not one time endeavors. As each is accomplished we celebrate and reflect. And then we set a new, appropriate, asset allocation.
Investors say the more risk you can bear the more aggressive you can be.
Playing conservatively aims to protect what you currently value. You will likely experience some slow, long-term growth and avoid the thrills-and-chills of a more aggressive growth strategy. You are solidly in your comfort zone here; discreetly playing it safe.
An aggressive growth strategy maximizes your returns by emphasizing the rise in value, or appreciation based on higher risk. The more risk you can tolerate the more likely a greater return.
Abiding high risk is volatile. It takes nerves, determination, and faith.
In the investment of life, what are the risks?
Being mocked? Failing? Being excluded or judged? Exposure? Fear? All of these are a form of bondage. Each of these a choice we make, seemingly insignificant, to keep ourselves living an average life.
Ah! But a greater reward.
And do we not value reward?
