Pausitivity: Take a Moment to Nurture Yourself

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Pausitivity [pôz-i-tiv-i-tee] noun The feeling of joy and optimism that comes when you stop to take a moment to restore and nurture yourself.

Pausitivity begins with this simple, yet profound definition to its creative sniglet. Written and complied by M. H. Clark, the small book is filled with calm inspiration and soothing watercolor illustrations depicting nature. It emanates a peaceful sense of potential through several powerful quotes and words of wisdom, paired with beautifully running colors and a subtle gorgeousness.

Pausitivity would serve as a lovely gift for anyone who could benefit from the beautiful calm and joy that comes from taking a moment out of their busy lives to appreciate the small things and achieve balance. The book is also perfect for keeping on a desk or nightstand as a daily reminder to quiet your mind, open your heart, find happiness, and carry peace within your own life.

…be silent..and the beauty explodes, reaches to you from all directions. You are drowned in the beauty of a sunrise, of a starry night, of beautiful trees. -Osho

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

The Grand Canyon

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After living in Arizona for 23 years, it finally happened. I visited the Grand Canyon.

With the world-renown showplace of geological formations and scenic vistas only 250 miles away – practically in my backyard – I could go anytime, and really had no excuse to still sheepishly respond to inquiry with, “Nope, I’ve actually never been.”

The Colorado River, as viewed from Lipan Point.

The images you’ve inevitably seen in books and documentaries don’t do the Canyon justice. Extending for 277 miles and stretching up to 18 miles across, it’s impossible not to be inspired by, and in complete awe of the imposing crack in the earth. Adorned with layer upon layer of multicolored rocks and vegetation, the Canyon is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Though not the largest natural gorge, the colors of the Grand Canyon shift in different lights and the points along the trails provide spectacular views, beyond fathom.

Over time, the Colorado River has carved away at the rocks, exposing walls that extend downwards for a full mile and represent eras throughout the past two billions years. Beyond the innate beauty of the area, it is a minefield of history and knowledge for archaeologists and geologists, as well as visitors who are able to learn from the professionals’ discoveries.

The Rim trail extends approximately 13 miles.

The South Rim is centered around Grand Canyon Village, which houses the hotels, restaurants, stores, and homes of the locals. As luck would have it, my mom knows a couple who work and live in the Canyon and who were able to provide both a convenient place to stay and invaluable insights into what to see and what to do during the stay. I’d have never known the Grand Canyon is the only national park that contains a school (with approximately 100 total students, from kindergarten up through high school). Out of the five million visitors annually, a surprising number of people fall over the edge or experience problems while hiking in the Canyon. Our guides, one of whom is a volunteer EMT, recounted several instances in which people have died along the rim or within the Canyon, whether by accident, suicide, or homicide. (Someone actually fell 600 feet to their death during out two-day visit.)

Desert View Watchtower is a four-story structure erected in 1932 to provide a better view of the Canyon.

After two days of hiking and exploring the Grand Canyon, eating at wonderful restaurants such as the El Tovar and Arizona Room, and seeing a dinner theater performance at The Grand Canyon Dinner Theater, we left via the scenic Desert View Drive, stopping at Lipan Point and Desert View Watchtower to take in the breathtaking views.

Sunset Crater is just one of about 600 mountains with volcanic origins in the San Francisco Volcano Field.

We continued through the Painted Desert to Sunset Crater Volcano, which is comprised of 900-year-old volcanic rocks and ash, sparse vegetation, and a handful of small creatures. We passed through Flagstaff, then took a scenic drive through Sedona on State Route 179, which happens to be one of only 27 roads in the country designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as “All-American Roads” for their remarkable and unique natural and scenic qualities. The city of Sedona is known for its distinctive red buttes and cliffs and lush verdant vegetation, as well as its unique cultural atmosphere.  

Sedona is often referred to as “Red Rock Country.”

When people think of Arizona, they often envision a lifeless expanse of sandy desert. However, this is far from true. Though the lower elevations, such as Phoenix, are filled with cacti, shrubs, and artificially watered non-indigenous flora, the ascent to northern Arizona is flooded with towering buttes, mountainsides painted green with Ponderosa Pines, inactive volcanoes capped with snow, and a pallete of unique new colors.

Whether you live right up the street from the Grand Canyon, or across the globe, it’s an absolutely incredible sight to see and you should certainly make an effort to see it at some point in your life, if the opportunity presents itself.

A seven-mile hike along the South Rim.

Entrepreneurship as a Viable Option for Recent Graduates

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A year ago today, I was excited. With a college degree in tow, I was ready to take on the world. I would land a secure (if less than ideal) job, move out on my own, buy a big dog, save up money for either graduate school or travel, and everything would fall effortlessly into place.

Well, things don’t always go according to plan. After over 200 job applications, I was finally offered a minimum-wage, part-time job. Though far from ideal, it covers my basic expenses - gas, groceries, insurance, and student loan repayments. Barely.

As I watch the next round of graduates receive their degrees this month, I can’t help but wonder where my peers are today. Some currently employed friends had connections and others just got lucky, but most I’ve talked to are in the boat as me, either unemployed or underemployed (50% of college graduates under 25 fall into the latter two categories).

Regardless of one’s intelligence, drive, and work ethic, opportunities are increasingly hard to come by. The potential to succeed means nothing, if you’re not given the opportunity to go out there and experiment with your skills.

About a year ago, I wrote about a discussion in my Anthropology class, in which we talked about the economy and human nature, and that conversation will serve as the foundation for this post. A year ago, the economy was no better. While most professors were commending students on their hard work and wishing them the best of luck in securing their dream jobs, one brash middle-aged teacher told it like it was. Though nervous about the prospects, I was among the disillusioned majority, convinced that finding a “real job” would be relatively easy. I’ve since learned that is not true.

“I don’t know where I’ll be job-wise a month, a year, or a decade from now, but I can assure you that I won’t be here writing about how boring my work is nor complaining about how overqualified and underappreciated I am. Being just another minion, maybe no one will take me seriously, but if I’m actively contemplating ways to improve my own work and the practices of the company, I’m surely better off than the bored young man who is counting down the minutes until his shift ends.”

I’ll occasionally go back and read though my backlog of lightly processed thoughts. Oftentimes ideas seem to percolate over time, and things written weeks, months, and years ago make more sense when revisited later. Twelve months ago, I didn’t know what was in store, but I had a skeletal plan – make your work meaningful, even if its not inherently so; put forth your best effort, improve efficiency, and make the most of your situation. Over the past few months, I’ve unconsciously been putting this into practice. I don’t love my job, but I can say that I’m proud of the work I produce and the way that I treat my coworkers. Perhaps that’s as of good a start as any.

“To be human is to problem-solve. To deny people the opportunity to problem-solve and to be creative alienates them and removes some element of their humanity.”

I’m a problem solver. People have always come to me to resolve arguments. I love word problems and logic puzzles. I love actively working towards a solution, regardless of whether the problem is real or whether a solution is actually necessary. I think one of the biggest problems for recent graduates is that they’re being denied the opportunity to implement their problem-solving skills and creativity. Working as a receptionist or waitress is not the type of challenge that most degree holders are seeking. I would venture to say that most unemployed and underemployed college graduates would choose challenging and meaningful work over a high paycheck and good benefits, though a coupling of both would be ideal.

Given circumstances in which someone wants to be challenged and wants for their work to be backed with purpose, within an economic market where that opportunity is not readily granted, what are the options? How does one go about building meaning into monotony and creating new things when there’s no external motivation? I suppose the answers are to do your best, to remain curious, and to pursue your interests. But is that really enough?

I just finished reading The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau, in which he suggests that anyone can start a business with minimal monetary investment. The key is to find some convergence between what you are good at doing and what other people are interested in buying, and to apply your skills and passion to fill an inefficiency in the marketplace.

Perhaps entrepreneurship is the new “safe” career path. Maybe starting up your own (low monetary investment) business is the way to counter a floundering and uninviting job market. Self-employment is a means of making a living while also pursuing your passions, and it just may have more potential for success than society would have us believe.

My mom was self-employed for most of my life. She sold a product she was passionate about, managed a huge team, dealt with all the necessary paperwork, crafted her work schedule around her life, and was wildly successful. Although that business no longer exists, my mother has been a huge inspiration throughout my life. When I grew up, I wanted to have a successful career that was built around my family life, travels, and other priorities. My mom made it work, and made it look easy and exciting.

I know now that running a business it not necessarily easy. However, I’m drawn to concept of controlling the level and type of effort that goes into a project, and then watching the results unfold. I’m curious, innovative, and always experimenting with new ideas. I relish the thought of spending my days working on projects that I actually care about. What if I could be paid to do something I love, as well as control how things are run and change the rules as I please? I want to say that it takes a certain personality to find success through entrepreneurship, but I don’t think that’s true; everyone has some area of interest and expertise, and with the right approach and enthusiasm, anyone could be successful in their own business venture, or at least benefit from the experience.

Although I have no idea where I’d begin; I’m grappling with the idea of working on my own $100 startup microbusiness. I’d like to have money to either attend graduate school or travel the world, and if potential employers think that I’m “not aggressive enough” or “lacking the proper experience,” maybe it’s time for me to go out into the world and create my own opportunities.

Figurative Tree-Climbing

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Browsing through the archives, I realized I’ve written a significant amount on relationships, especially considering the fact that I’ve never been a part of one. I’ve addressed everything, from why I don’t date, a list of traits that I look for, why I don’t need a relationship, and how simple and beautiful love truly is. I’ve always been stubbornly independent and intent on doing things my own way. Life as a “crazy cat lady” always seemed fitting.

Well, life is always moving forward, progressing, developing, unfolding; and perhaps one day you’ll wake up and realize that it’s possible for your hopes to overlap with someone else’s ideals, to discover an arrangement in which you can be both independent and interdependent, to learn how to pursue your own dreams and invite someone else to be a part of that wondrous adventure.

In all the time I spent not dating, I devised an unwritten set of guidelines for myself. Firstly, when the right person comes along, it will feel right. Know is not the right word, as it implies thinking, dissecting, and analyzing. I’d never experienced it before, but I knew that without that feeling I would never be able to commit to someone. If it didn’t feel right, I would be under no obligation to give someone the time of day. When said happy-feelings person comes along, give them a chance for crying out loud! Get to know them, open up, be yourself. Trust your intuition. Don’t let fear hold you back.

I have always been good at following the rules…

So, I recently discovered that that’s about as far as my schema goes. Six months ago, I met someone wonderful, and everything about it felt right, so I got to know him. I’m all about plans, control, and knowing everything I can about any given situation. But I have no plan. Rather than being disconcerted and paranoid (as I’d expect from myself), I feel free, uninhibited, and I am absolutely brimming with anticipation. For once in my life, I’m not hanging on past disappointments, I’m not completely self-conscious and insecure, and I’m not worried about what the future may hold. Each day feels bright and new, and every time I venture into the vast outdoors I can’t help but notice and ponder all of nature’s little intricacies, from the nebulous star-fields to humblest of earthworms.

Bridging the connection between another person seems to emphasize the innate magnetic draw that holds everything together, and highlight the harmonious resonance that resounds in a seemingly chaotic world. And somewhere amidst the burlesque and burdensome can be found so many beautiful and awe-inspiring revelations. Sometimes you need to go out on a limb to grab the apple, to take a few risks to learn what you’re truly capable of achieving.

Apparently the way to my heart is an endless stockpile of trivial facts, a robust and ever-growing vocabulary, a cleverness and wit to match my own, curiosity and a childlike wonder of the world, honesty and authenticity, spontaneity, respect and understanding, a nice balance of sarcasm and goofiness, analysis and deep conversation, nearly identical food preferences, amusing idiosyncrasies, and of course a love of books. No, I’m not describing myself. I seemed to have found my perfect complement, who happens to be more outgoing, more active, and a far better writer than myself. There’s always more to learn and experience, and a bit of guidance and encouragement along the way is certainly helpful.

I don’t particularly like reading about other people’s relationships, so I won’t harp on my own. However, as with my cats and my garden, I like acknowledging those the things that make me happiest in life, so perhaps expect a bit more variety around here.

Well, I am excited, and indescribably happy! Feel free to join in the festivities.

“Cheese!” is overrated.

When You Don’t Know What to Do Next, Buy New Socks

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When you aren’t sure what you’re supposed to do next, it’s typically advised to research your options, make a decision, and then jump in without reservation.

Easier said than done.

When I don’t know what to do next or become overwhelmed by the endless options and societal pressures, I buy socks. Although I am fond of the cozy, cotton foot warmers, the premise of that action is that doing something practical gives you back a sense of control. Control, in and of itself, is an illusion. Yet, checking items off a to-do list, signing up for classes, cleaning house, and buying new socks sure do feel good.

At work, I generally have a lot of free time, which I generally spend reading. However, for the past week or so, I’ve just sat for hours at a time thinking about anything and everything, letting the ceaseless interruptions influence and inspire my thoughts. The result is pages of notes, black pen on white printer paper; ideas which seem more reminiscent of a rainbowed chain of colored papers, all distinctly different, yet so intricately linked.

I began with a reflection back on Quiet, in which Susan Cain recalls a gentle and thoughtful lawyer who was surrounded by more aggressive personalities. Despite recognizing her strengths and positive traits, the lawyer compared herself to her colleagues and then questioned her ability to succeed on her chosen path. Ultimately, her honest approach, gentle nature, and passion for her work helped her earn both respect and success in the field.

Which led me to ask, what are factors that lead to success? Not what convention tells us, but what ultimately lies at the heart of personal fulfillment?

Whoever you are, however you are, and whatever you do, it’s important to be honest and truthful with those you work with, as well as yourself. Be passionate, profound, and personal. Make people laugh. Have a solid and flexible vision – don’t change your dreams, but be willing to change your strategies. Be ready to fail, because failure is inevitable and, conveniently, the best way to remain grounded, curious, and humble. Be disciplined and self-motivated. Improvise and innovate. Become an open minded and independent thinker. Help others, have their back, earn their trust. Find your rhythm, build a routine, work like crazy, and give yourself breaks when you need them. Create something worth sharing. Treat people like human beings, not numbers or personal income. Recognize your mistakes, ask yourself what you can learn from them, and move on. Seek out constructive criticism, and make honest feedback a positive experience. Be receptive to new experiences, and find novelty in the mundane and everyday. Face challenges head-on, be resilient, find strength. Be grateful for your experiences, happy in the present moment, and excited about the future. Trust yourself, listen to your heart.

These all seem like great ideas, wonderful launching points, but once again, easier said than done.

I have the tendency to over-think, over-analyze, and get caught up in irrelevant details. When hopeful and engaged, this leads to innovative new ideas and a boost in self-confidence. However, when I feel uncertain or defeated, everything feels wrong and often I let my fear of failure get the best of me. When we become overwhelmed, lose faith in ourselves, or simply don’t know what to do next, I think the key is to take baby steps, to check small tasks off your to-do list, to go buy yourself some practical new socks and set off on your next big adventure. Often one small victory can lead to a succession of others.

On Personal Dreams and Roadblocks

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My biggest dream is to be accepted to a prestigious graduate program in social, personality, positive, or educational psychology, to be successful as a doctoral student and to perform research that I’m passionate about, to discover my calling and do everything in my power to share and implement my insights and, in doing so, improve the lives of others. I want to find happiness and fulfillment through my work.

However, a huge obstacle lies right in the middle of my path. I’m continually overwhelmed by this paralyzing fear, a deep-seated insecurity about my ability to function successfully in the world. I hold the belief that from the safety of my own mind, I’ll be able to come to understand the functioning of everything that surrounds me, and eventually rejoin the real world with confidence in my understanding. Instead of propelling me forward, this skewed mindset causes me to shrink further and further from the people and opportunities that will actually help me get to where I’m headed. Rather than asking for help from the people who I know care, I tend to delve deeper into the dark corners of my own mind, searching for nonexistent answers.

Man is an animal suspended in webs of significance that he himself has spun.

-Clifford Geertz

I spend inordinate amounts of time collecting and developing ideas and skills that I believe might make me feel more confident and self-assured. I proudly carry around knowledge in my head, but become so engrossed in my own thoughts that I regularly neglect social relationships, and all the things that I should care about. I don’t tend to my real needs, and when problems arise, I run away and hide from them, hoping that maybe they’ll disappear or be forgotten. In my mind, I’ve created a false reality in which it feel simpler and safer to sacrifice the way things were for a scenario in which I start from scratch in an area in which I could potentially feel more competent, than face and work through my own flaws and shortcomings. In writing, it sounds foolish and ridiculous, but our mental schemas can be so powerfully convincing, despite their blatant inaccuracy.

Although, I personally pride myself in being a kind and moral person, those traits aren’t appreciated by society at large, and are often seen as supplemental fluff. Thus, I’ve built my identity around being intelligent, having ideas, and sharing my synthesis of knowledge, preferably through writing. However, the irony of the situation is that no matter what level of mastery I achieve in any given field or how successful I perceive myself to be, my fear of inadequacy never seems to go away. I can keep reading, thinking, and sharing ideas, but it will never be enough.

I may be cerebral, perceptive, innovative, insightful, curious, alert, and countless other positive things; however, at the other end of the spectrum, I’m often intense, detached, secretive, isolated, high-strung, preoccupied, reclusive, and unstable. Perhaps one day I’ll overturn conventional ways of thinking and put forth some innovative idea, but I feel that at this rate and on my current path, I’m more likely to become eccentric and socially isolated.

I feel more at home in my mind than in social situations; I feel safer viewing the world from a detached vantage point than taking part in the action. I believe it extends beyond mere introversion because I knowingly shut out opportunities for growth and learning. My thoughts are so overwhelming that the world within my head becomes intensely and conspicuously engrossing, to the point that little of outside world seems significant or satisfying. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m profoundly out of touch with reality, that my thinking is grossly convoluted,  and that my reactions and coping mechanisms are unhealthy.

When I become anxious and fearful, I’m reduced to an overwhelmed and severely immobilized being with little power to do anything. The comfortable environment I’ve created for myself suddenly transforms into an unpredictable and threatening beast; I cut back on social interactions in order to allay my fears, but that ultimately only feeds them. I’m sensitive to the world around me, acutely aware of my fragility and defenseless. In order to compensate for my environmental sensitivity, I put up a facade of apathy and intellectual arrogance, consciously, though unintentionally, creating distance between myself and others. I’m painfully uncomfortable with my social skills; though I feel as if when I do manage to make it past the initial hurdles, I more than capable of being a loyal and loving friend, the fear of failure often prevents me from putting forth even the smallest amount of effort.

I’ve recognized these traits in myself for years and have watched myself cycle in and out of the habit, growing more and more frustrated with my inability to overcome the tendency. As of late, a few brave souls have had the courage to call me out on my behavior. In paying attention to my reactions, I’ve noticed how I behave when I become overwhelmed. I shut off my social networks and my phone, and I pour all my time and energy into a singular, seemingly important and worthwhile project (which is currently graduate program research and applications). It’s a completely unhealthy and counterproductive way of coping, especially when there’s not even an obvious reason as to why I’m so anxious.

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive.. the risk to be alive and express what we really are.

-Don Miguel Ruiz

Having developed my identity around knowledge and discovery, graduate school seems like the logical answer to overcoming my insecurities, sense of failure over having not secured a decent job a year after graduation, and my general lack of self-esteem lately; however, although I intend to continue the application process, that is not the solution. I think the key is to find a balance between acquiring knowledge and taking action, to let go of my pride and be willing to ask for help when I need it, to accept things as they are rather than worrying about and over-analyzing all those things which I can’t control. I need to start reminding myself that the best experiences come to those who aren’t afraid to get their feet wet, because I will never achieve a single one of my dreams if I’m too fearful to take the first step towards arriving there.

Flying

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A massive concrete building housing this diverse gathering of strangers, the expansive and stuffy terminals reeking of anxiety and excitement. Ceaseless movement, chaotic comings and goings, space in a continuous state of flux.

The thrill of somewhere new, someone special. The looming unknown, the fear hangs heavy in the Boeing craft, filled to capacity. A wailing baby across the aisle, a morbidly overweight neighbor pouring over your shared armrest, Mission Impossible blaring faintly through some far off headphones. None of that matters.

The moment of culmination, a freeing. A sense of power, without need. Utter surreality.

Imbalance, a haunting hollowness, the inexorable throbbing of some existential void. A spirit momentarily filled by emptiness, permeating and expansive.

A boundless infinity, sweeping endlessness. An ever-extending horizon, a liquid eternity. Formless beauty, the suspension of reality. Timelessness, the encompassed sensation of understanding. A temporary release from the tyranny of petty things. In this moment you are the universe, and you are nothing at all.  

Vivid and cascading greens, staggering stormy grays, snaking blues. Towering building blocks dance along the skyline, a pristine baseball diamond lays dormant below, toy cars race slowly along the highways. The chased sunset makes its descent. An emotive fascination overwhelms as the far-reaching cityscape is magically lit up like Christmas. A million specks of fire against a pitch black backdrop.

A subtle ticking, a fast approaching deadline. Dread, anticipation, and termination.

Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life

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Between my background in psychology and my personal experience with shyness, I have a keen interest in the common, yet socially shunned personality trait. In her book, Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life, Barbara Markway examines and dissects the issue of social anxiety, defined as the experience of apprehension or worry that arises from the possibility, either real or imagined, that one will be evaluated or judged in some manner by others.

The book answers common questions regarding the meaning and causes of social anxiety, and contains self-assessment tests and activities, as well as several helpful methods for overcoming social anxiety. In addition, there is a section on how to recognize and help your child overcome social anxiety. Finally, it concludes with an appendix of helpful terms and resources.

I found this book to be a fascinating look into a personality trait that is often seen as undesirable, and a hindrance to success. Combining scientific research and her own clinical experience, Markway offers an informed and understanding perspective on social anxiety and those who suffer from its overwhelming symptoms.

Some examples of practical exercises to overcome instances of social anxiety include paying attention to what the other person is saying, rather than focusing on how you look; and relaxing your mind and reminding yourself that you don’t have to be perfect, instead of worrying about what others are thinking about you. The section on methods for managing social anxiety is full of countless similar suggestions and tips.

As anyone who has dealt with shyness or social anxiety knows, it can be a real struggle. Throughout life, each of us is driven to consider the four existential concerns – death, freedom, isolation, and meaning. Although grappling with these complex issues does not guarantee answers, the questioning process in and of itself can help one transcend their small, everyday struggles, adding more fulfillment and joy into their life. By focusing on the big picture rather than each individual interaction, one can lessen the effects of social anxiety.

Whether you’re studying psychology, interested in the topic of personality, or suffer from painful levels of shyness and social anxiety or know someone who does, this book is a wonderful resource, presented in a helpful and easy to follow format.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

The Risk of Judging a Book by Its Cover

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I’m going to do X, Y, and Z today, and that’s that. I’m a planner, organizer, and regulator. I like routine, and I have a hard time functioning when my ducks aren’t all in a row. Although I absolutely love spontaneity, it does not come naturally for me. So I linger in the moments when I’m compelled to do something out of the ordinary. With around 150 books on my to-read list, 40 or so of which I own and have piled up on my desk, I always pick up books that have been personally researched and recommended. Well, nearly always.

A few years ago, I purchased my first unplanned book, Something Missing: A Novel by Matthew Dicks, at the used book store. The book was was my favorite color, and the blurb on the back was intriguing – a career criminal with OCD tendencies steals small household items from the same people for years, completely undetected. I was sold. And the book was surprisingly good. It’s an easy read, smart with just enough witty humor to keep the reader continually entertained.

There’s something exciting about not knowing what to expect, not having any idea what may lie ahead, and being okay with the not knowing. And there’s both comfort and titillation in taking a small risk, and in having things turn out better than you had expected. A new book is a small and simplistic example, but an effective one.

A few weeks ago I picked up yet another “mystery” book from my favorite independent bookstore. Broken by Karin Fossum, was discreetly tucked away at the bottom of the staff recommendations shelf. I was drawn to the woman’s face on the cover, and held the book more tightly after reading the summary. An author wakes up to find one of her characters standing above her, begging her to tell his story, and she does. I wandered the story, picked up the books I had intended to buy, and then stared down at the unexpected item in my hands. It sounds amazing, but how can I know if it really is? I debated for the longest time whether it was worth the risk – do I want to spend $15 on a potentially awful book? In the end I bought it. And I’m glad it did. The plot-line is compelling and the writing style is complex, slightly reminiscent of the movie, Stranger Than Fiction. It was an enthralling read, and I almost didn’t take a chance on it.

Risk is defined as “ the potential that a chosen action or activity (including the choice of inaction) will lead to a loss.” Risk, in and of itself, entails not knowing. However, that unknown territory is just as likely to lead to gains as losses. Taking a risk is often worth that chance. When we’re uncertain of what’s ahead, we generally don’t get our hopes up too high, and thus become excited over average outcomes. When things don’t go well, it’s okay because we weren’t expecting much anyways; in addition, failures are often the best opportunities for learning. Had either of my randomly chosen books fallen short, I’m sure I’d still have been pleased with myself for trying something new. Taking risks is frightening and often a challenge, but the gleaming uncertainty is also exciting, because in it lies hope for something new, better, and potentially life-changing.

I’m one of the most risk-averse people I know, and often struggle with situations that I can’t control. However, through small challenges, risks, and steps outside my comfort zone, I’ve learned that there is there is an overwhelming potential for positivity in new experiences, whether opening up to someone, traveling across the globe, or picking up a new book.