I approach decisions the way an ophidiophobe approaches a snake; not with caution and thrift, but with complete, blind terror, which could also be why I’m also bad at stress. My carpe diem lifestyle in my early 20′s did not result in a lot of great decisions, so by the time I got married I was ready to give all decision-making a rest, hand it to Marti and let life happen.
When I did start making decisions again, I started to think in practical terms, such as choosing a practical career, making efforts to move closer to family and in general becoming more “normal” and less “Missy.” I think there is real worth in learning to make, and accept, practical choices. The goal, however, is not to lose who I am, but to find balance, that essential Socratic value. “Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit,” said Aristotle.
Photo courtesy of www.ratemyscreensaver.com
Nevertheless, we keep old friends to remind us who we once were (among other reasons), and after spending the last seven or so years trying to be (and occasionally succeeding at being) practical, an old friend of mine reminded me that I liked to travel. And that I could travel with my family. And that it wouldn’t be that bad. In fact, he told me a story about a French child he met in Africa, who was camping with his family. The little boy said he liked camping, but couldn’t sleep for the snoring. Your parents? my friend inquired. No, said the little boy. It was the snoring of the hippos. You can be practical all you want, my friend said to me. But do you want your children to miss the snoring of the hippos?
I couldn’t argue with that.
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