Anything we do in life requires taking risks. I don't know how many times I've heard that doing <insert activity here> will cause cancer. I had a lot of people tell me that I was foolish to get a motorcycle because I was putting my life in danger. I would often respond that you risk your life if you drive a car too. I'll admit, there is a higher chance of getting into an accident on a motorcycle than in a car and the outcome can be worse, but we must realize that everything in life has a risk of some sort. Our job is to consider the possible outcomes and decide if the benefits are worth the risk.

Sitting on the couch watching TV could result in the radiation affecting us adversely. Taking a walk outside we risk getting run over by a car, being bit by a dog or getting skin cancer from the sun. These risks are unavoidable but most people are willing to accept them in order to watch TV or to enjoy the outdoors. That is exactly how I feel about riding a motorcycle: the fun is worth the risk. When I have a family I may not feel the same way because I'll be risking the well-being of my family but I will make a new decision when that time comes.

We should be more aware of the risks we take and realize that no matter what we do we will be taking risks. Investing in a Roth IRA we risk losing all our money due to a stock market crash. Storing all our money under the mattress may result in it being stolen. The list goes on and on, and being aware of the risks we're taking will help us choose appropriate activities for ourselves.

Sometimes there are unforeseen risks, which have results we didn't even consider when we chose an activity. Bad things happen to good people and we have to deal with them as best we can and move on. Of course it's much easier said than done. I have the utmost respect for those who have gone through extremely trying circumstances and come out of them better for the experience. They are an inspiration to me and I hope that when I have to go through trying times I can be as optimistic and positive as others I've seen.

Updated May 23, 2008