High Risk High Reward… my first thoughts are why take a risk if the reward is not life-changing, not everlasting and not rememberable for years to come. What is considered a high risk? For some, going to college, starting a family, trusting someone with your life security or getting a divorce. Why did getting a divorce come to mind! Is getting a divorce after 30 years a high risk or a high reward? “After 3 decades with a person, you should know if you’re all in and if not then jumping ship isn’t awful, I guess.” All sorts of positives and negatives I can imagine. The last few years I took a break from sharing my thoughts in my blog because life became busy with high-risk scenarios which led to high reward while others resulted in a decreased value. To recap, I have several titles, loyal sheep “Psalm 100:3”, wife, mom, LTB, “those who call me ltb know the meaning” buds, buddy, daughter, sista, queen, friend, and love. For years I felt proud to be called problem solver to so many of my loved ones, but lately I don’t solve problems, I listen and observe and help others come to their own realization of life choices… hence my first blog back is about high risk and high rewards so we will leave the topic of divorce to another time. Interestingly, my first high risk is trusting something or someone with my life faith, happiness, and fulfillment. Is that wrong to put that kind of pressure on another person? Not sure, but it’s being done by so many of us. How much of a high risk is involved in starting a new job path? Is a high salary worth the 70 hours of week workload, time missed with family, stress it puts on one’s mind, body, and ability to not capitalize every waking moment to meet someone else’s goal? But what if it’s your own business, is it then considered high risk with high reward? Back to my first high risk… when is it wrong to put so much of your trust in someone’s else hands? Is allowing any worry to build up for days and days, losing sleep, becoming irritable and finally exploding on the one person who you know loves you unconditionally a high risk? And how disappointing when your trust is broken by a word not said or too many words said. In the end of your ordeal, was the high risk of allowing someone to be the holder of your happiness worth the loss of a high reward such as maybe self-respect? Anyone who knows me would have guessed I would not be able to blog without bringing up some form of self-respect. I know I don’t want to end this series of questions without knowing others’ thoughts on high risk or high reward… but I can’t help but to ask is losing your self-respect a high-risk? Or gaining someone else’s respect the paramount high reward?
High Risk High Reward
Wendy's Words 
Thought-provoking. Loosing self-respect is too high a risk just for the reward of gaining someone’s respect.
Wow, welcome back with a bang!! It’s late and as I was drifting into my hour long deep, soothing, sleep and I’m awakened by the reminder to read the blog. Well that’s gotta be the best reminder I have gotten in a while. The thoughts flowing in my mind to answer these questions are a high risk of losing the sleep I so desperately need, but the high reward it will give me to clear my mind of some of the things mentioned is worth it. But the question still remains, self respect is such a high risk that just the thought of losing it makes me cringe. Without self respect, how can you respect anything or anyone else? That is one of the highest risk one can take, to lose self respect. Is it worth losing it for that knight in shining armor, that queen bee in your life hive, or that ride or die soulmate? I guess the question has to be how do you have those people in your life at such high levels if you don’t have self respect?
I definitely understand that Knight in Shining Armor analogy…Thanks for bringing that up…Not easy to answer your last question, but if I am frank, I would say we all have people who strive to be respected in our lives I suppose, it’s just hard to give and not expect to receive back the level of respect. I think you’re right it starts with our own self-respect… why did the song from Aretha Franklin just pop in my head… RESPECT tell me what it means to me….
OMG, I missed you!!! This is a banger! In reading this it definitely made me reflect on some of the choices I’ve made in the past. Many of which I am not proud of: however, if given the opportunity to redo them I don’t think I would do them any differently. It was those decisions that changed my life. I could have been satisfied staying where I am and living life under another title, it’s safe so why not. Then I hear that voice that’s always saying that could have been you taking vacations at the drop of a hat or buying what you “need” when you “need” it without having to put things back or save for it. I missed so much from my life trying to chase this dream, AND I WILL HAVE IT!!! When I think about the risks I’ve taken I don’t regret it. Feeling the pressure of having to satisfy your loved ones against making yourself proud is a tough path to choose and as I got older, I began to understand why it is often the road less traveled. Having been with someone that your soul grew with for 30 years or even 6 years still hurts. Choosing to be broke for a few years to follow your dreams vs making the money now and hating every day you wake up is no joke, but is sadly the life we almost all seem to follow, myself included. This topic really hits home for me because I’ve been risking so much for so many years while silently still fighting the battle. But……….. I will have my victory, I will see my dreams come into fruition. I will have all that I manifest in a positive light. I will keep risking it until I have it ALL. So thank you for your post!
Future Dr.Liburd,RB,DDS/DMD
Hello future Dr.LLLLL, in the house! lol, you will make your goal, let’s manifest it together. I, too, believe 6 years is enough time for the heart-aching pain to hit hard. It’s good to hear you are going for the YOU I know you are to be! Always proud of you my future family dentistry doctor.
Such positive vibes given in this reply and the clarity I feel when reading it is like the waters of stingray city in the Cayman Islands. However something stuck out to me like a “not so sore” thumb…the road less traveled. Lots of thought on those simple but difficult 4 words. I fell the blog of emotions bubbling up inside, like a lava lamp turned up to high. I will gather my thoughts and release the stem later, for now keep pushing forward and being your number cheerleader. Gaining that self respect and making the choices in your life that make your life happy and complete for you is the best way to live.
Sheesh…this was good! It really got me thinking and considering all the times I have and have not risked things and opportunities at the expense of myself or those close to me.
How many times have I NOT risked it because of fear. Fear that I’d risk my family time, me time, or risk not adding up to the thoughts that others have of me.
I know without a doubt that I am a planner and don’t like to risk much because my comfort is safe, and my safety is comfortable. With that being said, I also secretly think and dream of the rewards such as time freedom and the flexibility that the “unicorns” of life show us are easily obtained.
When it comes to self respect – I can say I’ve been abusive to myself many times. Self sabotage, low self-esteem – the whole nine… So does gaining someone else’s respect have a higher opportunity cost than self respect? It shouldn’t, but sadly it has for me many times. It wasn’t until I got real with myself and my needs that things changed.
I think it’s important that we have our own personal definition of happiness/high reward. We must be careful that we don’t take societies painting as an equal comparison to our self portrait.
Just like you and Ms. Franklin said RESPECT find out what it means to me.
How wonderfully written MD! “we must be careful that we don’t take society’s painting as an equal comparison of our self-portrait” words of wisdom are what I thought when I read that… I know truthfully that fear is real and one way to go through fear is to Face Every Area Righteously… thank you so much for your candor, love it!!
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