Risk Takers
Risk Takers

A Poem

Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

Young children approach life

In a manner thought by adults to be very risky,

Or at least foolish,

Not so,

For they have not yet acquired the fears

That they will accumulate over time

Those that will often threaten to weigh them down

There is not the consideration of the possible consequences of their actions

So children’s behavior is not that of daredevils

They are more instinctual at this time in their lives

Young adults on the other hand

They choose jobs, friends, partners

Doing so often impulsively

Commitment and permanence are elusive concepts

At this stage of development

Some engage in reckless lifestyles

Drugs, alcohol taken in excess

Hooking up, using others merely as objects of pleasure

Driving as if they alone have a right to the road

Their awareness of consequences is only somewhat greater

Than when they were children

Yet they will be changed by their decisions

And life experiences

Become almost unrecognizable

To their earlier selves

As they mature and start to have careers and families

At times some will feel suffocated

And almost paralyzed by their chosen roles

So they may seek to escape by

Changing career, finding a new life partner

Indulge in a new philosophy and/or theology of existence

In retrospect their risks

Were not so great after all

For they can alter their circumstances

Ah, but some older people

Who with eyes wide open

Knowing how incredibly difficult it is

To maintain commitment, honesty, and love

In a relationship

Tempted to run away

Aware now of of all the obstacles

And accepting their own imperfections

And those of their loved ones

Knowing death awaits them

Choose continually to stay on the path

These are the greatest risk takers of all

Accepting the challenge of being true to themselves

Regardless of where it might lead them
["John O'Neill"]
['Life Lessons', 'Risk', 'Aging', 'Poetry', 'Poem']