Risk – Reward

This has piqued my interest this morning…..Risk – reward.

Actually, it’s piqued my interest and curiosity more often than just this morning.  But, lately I’ve been giving more time to my curious thoughts.  I guess I’ve started looking for value.  In the past I wouldn’t take the time (unfortunately) to explore those thoughts.  I was too busy living….at least that’s what I called it at the time.

I’ve always been an observer.  Now, I devote more time to the art of observing.  It provokes thoughts and creative thinking.  And of course I see the absurdity in a lot of common place stuff.

But, risk?  What does ‘risk’ involve?  In it’s simplest form Meriam-Webster defines risk as ‘possibility of loss or injury’.  Do we, you or I have to do something ‘dangerous’ to experience risk?  Which is defined by Meriam-Webster as ‘involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss’.

I know this is gonna sound weird…..but I think it’s simply because of the way we were raised, at least most of us. Some of us (not me) were raised in an environment that endeared us to risk. Which is why I want to throw an unusual idea of risk at you.

We all can remember our parents or other older relatives urging us to ‘be careful’, ‘stay safe’….all of which implies ‘danger’…..RISK!!!!

But how about that we take risk without doing anything out of the norm. Silly, huh? But doing the same unsual stuff is taking a risk. It’s a risk in the sense that the other choice of opportunity with a definite desire accompanying it will mean that the usual stuff must be sacrificed and it’s that sacrifice that is the risk.

RISK!!!!

Not willing to give up or do something different because we don’t like ‘change’ or we think that what we do or what we have is the pinnacle of life. At least for us.

When I look back…..I was always a risk taker looking for the ‘reward’!!! Sometimes I overlooked the reward and was thus disappointed with the risk. But, it didn’t stop me from future risk but having overlooked the reward and moving forward from there is something I’d like to have a redo at.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve looked for the rewards and enjoyed them and some were the result of a real risk.

Like this….

I recently spent 2 years in Mexico lazing around and exploring. Most definitely enjoying life. I became an avid walker. Everywhere I walked was new to me, even if I walked it the day before. I have this ingrained curiousity that always tells me, go over there where no one else is and see what’s going on.

On one particular morning…..an early walk I decided to explore this dirt road that lead me into the jungle (there’s a lot of jungle in Mexico!). As I walked I would notice an alternate path here and there and each one piqued my curiousity.

The idea of this being a risk not once crossed my mind. Don’t get me wrong, the area was noted (the Mayan Riviera) as being safe so…..why worry?

I explored those paths…..all of them over a period of time.

There were actually primitive looking luxury homes being built in some of these areas. That I found to be a WOW thing to me….I’d have never thought of building a luxury home in the jungle (about 5 miles deep within!! Especially when I had already encountered the primitive homes of Mexican’s and Mayan’s which I always stood in awe of.

REWARD!!!

I never once considered any danger in my walks. Except in hindsight. Truck loads of workers staring at this ‘gringo’ like I’m a good opportunity for whatever their pleasure may be. Hindsight….I see the danger. Especially now, knowing of the advancements of the cartel into the area. Some of these guys in the truck could very well have been ‘illegitimate’ citizens (I’ll explain shortly) which the cartels preyed upon, giving them purpose in life.

‘Illegitimate’ citizens in Mexico are children that are born outside the Mexican social system….they weren’t born in the hospital and thus they weren’t documented. As being undocumented citizens they are entitled to the privileges of documented citizens…..access to schools, healthcare, workforce, etc. They are easy prey for the cartels. Which is a rather sinister environment.

I didn’t see this at the time….ignorance. Thus the hindsight risk.

Risk to Reward…..

The ‘reward’. It follows the ‘risk’. I experienced encounters that the average everyday ‘tourist’ missed out on for their ‘all-inclusive’ (all-expensive) experience. I ate in homes that most people wouldn’t venture into…..ate food that I watched being prepared that would ward off any semblence of hunger…. Me, I enjoyed the hospitality and original cuisine that was most spectacular!!! I experienced ‘culture’ from an up-close and personal point of view that can’t be bought. I made friends that will last me a lifetime!! I had the opportunity to meet, eat, and enjoy the company of a elderly gentleman who was 100% Mayan, from deep in the jungle….he couldn’t speak English, and I knew no Mayan yet we enjoyed each others company. Enjoyed tradition that escape the tourist. I met bright eyed children, me being their first American they encountered (hope I made a good first impression). There was many occassions where I was the first American that they met, and the first time they sat in an air conditioned SUV with a radio.

Back to my ‘weird’ view of ‘risk’. Should I have chosen to just do the ‘usual’, I would have risked losing out on this experience.

By the way, I’m not suggesting in anyway to put ones-self in harms way. I don’t bungie jump!!!

I hope you took the risk to read (and understand) and you enjoyed the reward.

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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