Risk, Reward, Rights, and Real Courage

“You risked your life, but what else have you ever risked? Have you risked disapproval? Have you ever risked economic security? Have you ever risked a belief? I see nothing particularly courageous about risking one’s life. So you lose it, you go to your hero’s heaven, and everything is milk and honey ’til the end of time. Right? You get your reward and suffer no earthly consequences. That’s not courage. Real courage is risking something that might force you to rethink your thoughts and suffer change and stretch consciousness. Real courage is risking one’s clichés.” — Tom Robbins 

Good morning beautiful people, I see you, lovely bedhead! I’m sitting on a purple bean bag, I’ve got my RFN hat on backward, and my dog is making slurping sounds as she plows through her breakfast. My Queen is asleep, and I’m up for another fantastic day of talking to strangers and people that are in my 8%. I had 9 Zooms yesterday, 3 of which were troubled by some internet issues. By the afternoon, things began working again; I’ll reach back to my failed Zooms! I just had the thought, what if my two years ago self was reading these words. Zooms? WTF!

If you don’t know, I’m a risk manager. I assess my client’s risks and offer them products and solutions to help at a time of need. I understand risk; I know that some like risk and others don’t. It is up to me to create a risk management program based on their personal risk tolerance. I’m a conservative when it comes to many things, but I also have a liberal bent. Depending on the issue, I have my ideas and values just like any other human. I’m not a gambler, but I like cryptocurrency. Everyone has their own view of risk.

With that said, I think that others are trying to do personal risk management for the masses. We all live in different communities, and one city’s rule might not make sense for another. I am happy to see my home states of Indiana and Colorado end their mask mandate and allow restaurants to return to 100% capacity. I think 80% of Americans are over this virus, wanting to return to a new normal. I don’t think we will return to how we worked before, and for that, I am happy, but please stop telling me and others what we can and cannot do. 

We were rewarded in the pandemic. Our business grew, we got more efficient; after the first 60 days, we got out and about. We refused to hide to the chagrin of our friends and family. We were called super-spreaders; we were asked precisely what antibody test we took that showed we had the antibodies. After the initial shock and awe, we got back to living. I don’t mind wearing a buff or gator; I think it adds a little style to my giddy-up. I fear that many people bought into the “fear-porn-science” that was promulgated by our media. 2020 is a year that most did not enjoy, but it was our best year ever personally and financially.

I think one of the main reasons was our understanding of risk and our love of freedom. Once May arrived, we decided that we would live, take our chances, follow the rules, but get out, hike, dine, watch live music. I respected those who did not live as we did and wonder if they appreciated our approach to life. I can say that after a year in a pandemic and living as if there was no virus, we are healthy than ever. Not just physically, but our mental state has improved as well. I don’t think many consider their mental health; many are not as well today as they were in 2019. I watched friends, family, clients, and strangers go to dark places caused by an irrational fear of dying. I am not afraid to die; it’s inevitable, lean into it, as my famous Uncle once said, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a RIDE!

What a ride it was, is, and will be. I proclaim that it’s time to stop blaming COVID for your shitty service. I did a piece on the Bill of Rights a few weeks ago; I did a blow-by-blow of the document and discovered that many of our rights were violated. There was no language in there stating “but in the case of a pandemic.” My Queen was just on the phone with one of her clients; he’s a patriot; he has begun not visiting stores and restaurants if they are hypersensitive about the masks. Many people have stopped going to their favorite or regular spots based on the lunacy of ownership. 

We have decided to reimagine our offices. We have two in Indiana, and we will start with those converting them into co-working spaces for people looking for an office, cubicle, or conference room. We will charge $150.00 a month for a four-walled office, $50.00 for a cubicle; for those residents in our community that need to work outside their home, we will offer a very value-based office experience. We include high-speed scanning, a high-speed connection, and a pleasant working environment with our employees and others who want to take advantage of a low-cost office option.

I think we can generate some excellent revenue to help our bottom line. We are going to VRBO, our home in Indy; when we are in CO., We will begin that operation in June, working with corporations that want to have a lovely home for their visiting executives. Another income opportunity that we would not have recognized had it not been for that beautiful bat. How dare he, that beautiful bat? Google H Y P E R B O L E, you whiney baby.

And to wrap up this little soup, I want folks to know that it takes courage to stand up for things you believe. I think many people hold their tongue for fear of offending others. I don’t; it’s just my opinion, man. I say what I believe, and I think that if there were more without the fear of sharing their voice, the world could come together. It’s not right vs. left; it’s not democrat vs. republican; it’s not rich against poor; it’s people with sense vs. those with no reason. Change my mind.

“You risked your life, but what else have you ever risked? Have you risked disapproval? Have you ever risked economic security? Have you ever risked a belief? I see nothing particularly courageous about risking one’s life. So you lose it, you go to your hero’s heaven, and everything is milk and honey ’til the end of time. Right? You get your reward and suffer no earthly consequences. That’s not courage. Real courage is risking something that might force you to rethink your thoughts and suffer change and stretch consciousness. Real courage is risking one’s clichés.”

— Tom Robbins