Inspired by Extreme Sports Athletes
I’ve been thinking about this idea of choosing between what’s in your heart (especially when risk is involved) and playing it safe.
Specifically, I’ve been thinking about it in terms of pursuing things that involve physical risk.
Years ago I remember hearing a speaker tell his personal story of nearly dying while trying to climb Mt. Everest. The lesson he left with was “it was selfish for me to pursue Everest knowing it could have left his family without him.”
As someone who would be the loved one witnessing the physical risk (vs being the adventurer), I agree with this sentiment.
But as someone who supports living out what’s been placed in our hearts, I also get letting someone live the unfolding of the life that’s been placed inside them (no matter how scary the thought of losing them is).
I watched a documentary on Netflix called The Alpinist about Marc Andre Leclerc, a solo climber who scaled mountains without a rope, who, though he accomplished much in the climbing world, (spoiler alert!) died in an avalanche on the way down from having accomplished a big feat.
As sad as …