making choices, taking risks

I feel like my life is full of themes. Two of the big threads running through my life is about making choices and taking risks.

I think I take responsibility for my actions most of the time. I try to live my life as consciously as possible, continuing to wake up over and over, to learn more about myself to become more and more aware. And I know that this means that I have choices. Every moment there are choices, big and small. Do I get water or rootbeer? do I spend money on something fun or practical or not at all? do I veg out by myself or reach out for contact? do I go to france and get knocked up? do I answer the phone while I'm driving? choices. So many choices. And everything that happens to me in my life I have some control over--it is my choice how I respond. Do I run? do I grasp? am I angry? am I sad? do I find the humor in it all? It is all my choice.

And every choice has a consequence. If I choose the root beer, I spend 60 cents; if I choose water I don't. If I answer the phone while driving, there could be any number of outcomes (car accident, talking to someone I like, talking to someone I don't like, etc). Every choice that is made has some amount of risk involved, and making choices means accepting the risk of the outcome for better or worse.

I am generally a safety girl...in many arenas of my life I don't take risks, I 'play it safe', and in other arenas I take risks that other people can't tolerate. Me, I love to travel and adventure and trying new things, but I also love having a plan.

As I move into the living alone arena, I keep noticing more and more choice, risk, consequence. And I keep taking the plunge.