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Take the Risk

By Sara Jamison

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. - George Bernard Shaw

Just a couple weeks ago, I fully engrossed myself in a book titled "Veronika Decides to Die." After shelling out an almost rediculous twenty-four bucks for a 200 page hardcover book that I knew barely anything about, I settled in that same evening to begin reading. Let's just say I couldn't put the novel down until the last word was read. I was entranced by this book, not because my summer vacation was extremely dull and I had nothing better to occupy my time, but because the book brought about some very thought-provoking points.

In this great novel, Paulo Coelho touches on an aspect of our lives that we generally never take the time to fully analyze. Veronika, the female who attempts suicide because of her monotonous everyday life, finds herself awaken in a mental institution after a pill overdose. After being told her heart was damaged and she had about a week left to live, she begins to contemplate the actual meaning of her life. Her desperate attempts to end her life became an almost meaningless struggle to hold onto and cherish the last of her days between minor heart attacks and medical treatments. Her main regret became the most important and deadly mistake of her life. During this week of reflection she had in this hospital, she realized that the reason her life was dull and lacking excitement was because she made it that way.

Now take the time to think about her situation. If you had one week to live, what would you do differently to make your departure from the living satisfactory? Think about all the opportunities that have passed you by, all the people you didn't strike up a conversation with, all the activities you refused to participate in, all the things you held back on because you were too afraid or nervous to bring yourself to do it.

After reading this book and spending a couple days reflecting on the points presented, I really began to think about all the things that have passed me by in my own 17 years. I was relunctant to participate in the talent shows my elementary school held for fear of embarassment, overwhelmed by the feeling of stage fright. I sat silent many years at school in my classes, staying close mouthed and almost "mute" because of my hesitance that accompanies meeting new people and starting fresh friendships. I would be passing outside of my comfort zone. My fear of meeting new people caused me to have a circle of friends comprising of a select few, in which I knew if I lost, I'd be alone.

This book has drastically changed the way I look at life in general. I've learned to live each day to the fullest, as cliche as that may sound. I've learned to take risks, and to push fear to the side, for it is only a small obstacle that will keep you from enjoying your life to the fullest. Sometimes you have to face your fears to realize what you are missing out on.

Remember, only you can make your life exciting. Take that risk, participate in the opportunities at your doorstep, learn as much as you can, fall in love, let yourself go, but most of all, make your life memorable.