Innoveering Nebraska

The apparent lack of opportunities to practice taking risks (aka overcoming our fears) has been bothering me.  It seems dangerous to our survival as individuals and a society.  After all, innovation doesn’t happen without some risk.  If we’re not comfortable with taking risks, we’re not going to be very innovative. 

Which got me thinking that maybe the high dives have changed. 

Yesterday while I was running in the pool a little boy was learning to jump into the shallow end.  His father was standing two feet away from the side of the pool.  The kid was wearing armband floaters and an adorable dragon (with head) waist floater.  He was still really scared.  He still (eventually) jumped.  He also worked up the courage to get out and do it again and again, faster and faster each time. 

Also yesterday I bought crazy colors of cheap nail polish.  This is something I’ve never done and thought I should because I was so strongly opposed to the idea.  One of these is purple and seems to be pure glitter.   I have no idea how well the purple glitter polish will apply, but I am certain that my 12 year old cousin Florica is going to love it when she sees it on my toes.  (After an appropriately dramatic monologue about how she can’t believe I’m wearing it.) 

My point is that I think risks come in all sizes and shapes.  We just have to hunt for them a little harder now that so many of the obvious high dives are missing from our society. 

Happy hunting and happy risk practicing!

Below is the most conservative of my new polish colors – a bright metallic pink.  (I’m practicing and will work myself up to the purple glitter polish before our Frecks Ladies Weekend in two weeks.)

I’ve had a lot to think about lately so I’ve spent a lot of time running in the pool.  At least an hour a day. 

It’s also been really hot, so I’ve been noticing pools everywhere I go.  (Even on my deck and in my sunroom where I can see the neighbor’s fancy pool.)

Lastly, I’m going back to school for the first time in seven years which has me feeling and thinking a bit like a kid.   

In all this jumbled mess of thinking and pools and feeling like a kid, I’ve fixated on high diving boards. 

You see, so much of the last year has felt like jumping off a high dive to me.   Or rather jumping off high dive after high dive after high dive. 

Not that this is a bad thing.  In fact I think it’s been really good for me.  Maybe even really, really good for me. 

But it is scary.  The climbing the ladder, thinking about the commitment you’ve made to jump.  Facing your fear as you tremble at the end of the board realizing just what a risk you’re taking.  And the actual jump, hoping you land in a safe manner rather than a painful belly flop. 

What I’ve found is that it gets easier with repetition.  What I mean is that we can practice ourselves into taking risks.  Which seems counterintuitive, but I’m convinced it’s true.  There’s an “Oh that wasn’t so bad, I think I can do it again” component to the process. 

What worries me now is that all the pools have tube slides, mushroom umbrellas and cool water sprayers.  But none of them seem to have diving boards anymore, much less scary high diving boards.  And I fear this is indicative of society in general.  If this is true, what does it mean?  Where is the next generation learning to face their fears and take risks during their long summer moodlings?

If you know of a pool near Omaha with a high dive, please let me know.  I want to dive and jump off of one again for old times sake. 

{image citation}