Life is what you make of it. If we focus on the dreary, what could very well be real, we fail to recognize just how silly and zany it can be. Sure, smoking causes cancer. People who shoot up drugs are constantly on the brink of overdosing. A nervous twitch could be the onset of multiple sclerosis. A trip to the grocery store could end in loss of limb or death if another car careens into our paths. Deep frying jalapeno poppers in the Fry Daddy could potentially burn the house down. We all think nothing will happen, pushing the bad into the backs of our minds, as we carry about our lives.
But when you think too much about any of the above, you begin to fear life. I think skydiving would be an amazing experience, but it's not for everyone. Why? The dangers are imminent. Namely, the parachute won't open, the plane will crash, there's no guarantee of a safe landing...etc, etc. Of course, going to work on a daily basis could potentially pose some threat. Just last week, two cars were broken into in the surrounding area. But that's only if I make it to the office. I could get into a car accident, or have some truck slam into my body when I kneel to change a tire alongside the road.
Dangers about, they really do. The typical person will surpress these ideas and live the present. We all throw caution into the wind. We fixate less on the mishaps of living and find our way to get what we need to survive. Even those who fear leaving their homes for any of the above mentioned reasons could fall victim to electric fires, slipping in the shower, or stepping on a nail. Bright yellow CAUTION tape should really wrap around out "personal space" so we're made aware of the dangers outside our bubble. But in an ordinary day, we never truly know what bad will happen. (As I write this, my sperm count is dropping as the heat of the laptop incinerates my little guys, and the tendons in my wrists are knotting up.)
Inconveniences that result from living are overshadowed by the here-and-now. Studies have undoubtedly shown smoking causes cancer. Yet, smokers aren't worried about that...now. Need to get to Point B, when Point B is halfway across the country? Just hop in some large pressurized tube with 100+ strangers and go careening through the sky at the hands of some captain you've never met. Amusement parks make millions of dollars each year by charging people who are "thrill seekers" to ride on runaway trains will little more than an iron bar to protect them from any mishap.
We overlook the hiccups in life so we can focus on living, having fun, or what have you. When we spend too much time fearing the what-ifs, we miss out on being human and enjoying ourselves. We have things like cars and trains for getting around, razors for removing unwanted hair, and ovens for preparing our meals. A gas water heater keeps our showers hot and a pair of scissors is oh-so-handy for just about any craft project or coupon clipping. But any of these things could very well secure our demise. Still, we carry on.
Focusing on these little things may make us realize just how ridiculous life could be. Things that make Saturday Night Live's "Debbie Downer" skits seem so funny. We realize that if we pay credence to possible mishaps or obstacles in day-to-day life, it's all a bit absurd. By the same token, it makes us laugh. And enjoying life is one of the most wonderful things we'll experience.
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