Flipper was a guy who didn't take risks. He loved the taste scrambled eggs, but didn't want to risk breaking a bad egg; he is fascinated by the thrill of racing, but couldn't bring himself to risk going fast in his car; he dreams of going around the world, but wouldn't risk traveling long distances.

He convinced himself that he was "satisfied" without all the unnecessary risks by telling himself, "maybe they're really not meant for you," or "it's probably best this way." He knew he wanted scrambled eggs, wine and travel, and he longed everyday for them. But still, he could not get himself to jump off into taking the risk.

One day, while helping out in the garden, Flipper asked his father, "Dad, why does everything you love have to involve risks? Isn't it supposed to be easy because you love it?"

His father looked at him, and pointed to the small plant in front of them.

He said, "I love my plants. I care for them, I water them everyday, and trim them. As a gardener, part of my care is pruning them, cutting the stalks, trimming the branches. It's like surgery in people. I risk destroying the plant, I risk robbing it of its capacity to grow," He paused for a while, and looking Flipper in the eye, "But in doing so, I know it's possible that the plant might have better chances to bloom; that in risking it, I may - or may not - improve the plant's beauty. There is uncertainty. There is always uncertainty. But think for a moment,"

He said. "If I had not taken this risk, would the plant be any different? Probably, or probably not. But the real question there is: Would I be different had I or had I not acted? Would I feel better knowing that I could have improved something and yet did nothing because of the risk?

In risking, there are always two sides of the coin: yourself and the risk. Think of the risk as cold bottle of water, and you're really thirsty. You pick it up, you quench your thirst. In the end, you're invigorated. If the water had been dirty or had poison, then so let it be. But the bottom line is that you drank, you got quenched. Your risk is justified.

Ask yourself, are you afraid of the risk itself? Or are you afraid of its consequence? Is your dilemma with you taking the risk? Or is it because you are AFRAID?"

The father looked at his son. He placed a sapling on his hands, and then he said, "I am risking this in behalf of this plant: I am risking its life, entrusting it to your care, to your love." His father continued, "risks are always going to question your judgment, but, if you decide to love, you take a risk anyway. You see, love is never just a feeling, it's a decision to risk losing; and upon understanding, you win."

Flipper held the sapling in his hands, felt the roots starting to reach down to an uncertain future; like the plant, he is still wary with what lies ahead.

But he risks it.


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At an additional note, "Flipper" was given his name because as a very young child, he would risk falling to the ground while being held by his relatives, because he "flips". He thrilled himself in the experience. His "flips" are always his source of entertainment and adrenalin. He fell once, and hit his head on the floor. He has never flipped since then.

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I am not saying that one should be reckless in handling risks. But neither am I saying that you should be always calculating and anticipating what the risks entail. All I'm saying is that if you do not come to terms with the decisions you make, you will just end up miserable and sad and lonely.

Grab that opportunity. Take the leap. Fall. Hit the ground hard. Savor it. Feel it. Enjoy the thrill. Experience the hype it brings.