Today, please take a moment and think about all the people you know who are risk-takers.

 

We see them all the time in our daily lives; just like the person I saw this past week running a red light when the light was solid red while the green light was moving traffic in another direction.

 

Every day, we see wrecker service trucks picking up wrecked cars on our streets and highways.

 

In some of these wrecks, given the direction the vehicle was traveling, I must wonder how the car managed to cross the street or move through traffic.

 

Just this week, I witnessed a motorcycle rider weaving through traffic, putting himself at risk by crossing in front of an 18-wheeler.

 

I continue to see people texting while driving, which is distracting.

 

At times, I see muscle cars showing off, saying, “Look at me.”

 

Ironically, I was in Walgreens when I heard a young man on the phone talking about getting a ticket after just finishing a driver’s course.  When I walked out, he was pulling off in his Mustang, which somewhat explains his dilemma.

 

Sometimes the cars we drive can be magnets for tickets; however, it doesn’t always have to be.

 

Granted, every day we take chances and must always be cognizant of our surroundings when we leave our homes.

 

It doesn’t always have to be with traffic, as I’m leery of the foods I eat and what they do to my digestive system.

 

I’ve learned that the older we get, the more we must eat the right foods.

 

Over the years, I’m reminded of my resiliency training and the importance of leaving early so I don’t have to rush to my appointments.

 

Therefore, today, what is it that makes us take risks?

 

Do you see yourself as a risk-taker or someone who prefers to err on the side of caution and avoid taking risks?

 

Years ago, I learned the word “Timorous” while facing my fear of jumping out of airplanes in the military.  I was injured during a high-altitude entanglement and returned to jump status a few years later.

 

TIMOROUS Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

 

However, I’m not advocating that you do what I’ve done, because there is a process of adjusting our mindset to do anything we put our minds to.

 

Back then, we called it “building character” whenever we jumped out of an airplane or a helicopter.

 

What I am advocating is that the character we build is important.

 

For me, it is almost in the same category as hearing the words “No risk, no rewards.”

 

Plainly stated, “No risk, no rewards” means you must take chances or step outside your comfort zone to achieve meaningful gains, success, or growth.

 

Many of us have stepped outside our comfort zones in training for 10K runs or marathons.

 

I’ve only run three marathons in my life, and that was enough.

 

Even the squirrel we see in our backyards is taking a risk when it leaves the nest.

 

I saw one on the road the other day trying to cross the street and then turn back.

 

We are sometimes like squirrels, turning back to avoid the traffic.

 

On the other hand, we see those who like, or feel the need to, show off when we have a fast car.

 

Which is not how to build character.

 

We don’t need to run red lights if we plan and arrive 10 minutes early for our appointments.

 

We do not need to risk weaving in and out of traffic, putting other people in danger.

 

As we look at the people around us, we can surmise, or at least tell from their character, the type of person they are.

 

Not to judge; however, when I see a person who is “Timorous” and has never served in combat or the military, that person is not who I want watching my back if I’m stranded alone on an island.

 

Each of us has built a specific amount of character that is on display every day.

 

We hear it in the language people use and how they stand.

 

Although you may be timid, careful, or reluctant to go into combat or jump out of a perfectly good airplane, are you one who takes risks at the cost of others?

 

I’m not naïve; I know that sometimes worldly attributes can cloud our judgment.

 

Today is about having the proper character on display so that others see the good in you!

 

One of my favorite quotes is by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

 

Measure of a Man, The | The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

 

Today, I challenge you to do a pulse check.  What are you being measured on each day as you live your life?  When was the last time you looked at your character?