Risk Taking 101-- Chapter 2

Risk Taking 101-- Chapter 2-- Risks Worth the Reward?
By Brandt Danals.. Please, Call me B

You know.. I started this blog with the complete intention of going through at least the next year or so of my life, taking all kinds of risks and seeing how they turned out.. I'm not saying I'm giving up on that idea.. but I'm starting to question whether or not its worth it. You go through your entire life watching movies and reading books and hoping that someday that you are put in that situation. We all fall for these notions that maybe.. just maybe, We'll turn into that main character where the miracle actually works out.. when in all reality, we don't realize rarely does it happen that way.

The weekend started off different than most of my weekends as a college student. I actually went into a Thursday at Ashland thinking I wasn't going to consume any type of alcohol, then one of my better friends over the last four years came to me with a problem. His girlfriend of two years and him were having some serious problems, and I knew I needed to be there for him. So we sat around in my room and drank quite a few beers, had some more people over to get his mind off things and went to sleep at about 4am.

6am rolls around.. fuck.. I roll over listening to my phone screeching, because I need to get up for basketball practice. Hardest workout of the year so far no doubt. Timed mile. One 400m run, Four 200m runs, and Eight 100m runs.. all with about 10 or so beers in my stomach, and still holding on to some of my buzz from the night before. I'll be honest, I actually beasted the workout, especially considering my condition.

Now after practice I strolled back to my room to discover Tyler still sleeping so I crawled into bed and fell asleep until about 2pm, to discover him gone.

3pm. Tyler shows back up.. case of beer in hand.

Me.. "Fuckk... its 3 o'clock."
Tyler.. "Let's Go."

So admittedly, after not much persuasion, I start drinking with him, and we turn a game of Madden 2010 on my PS3 into a drinking game.. Which I might add probably wasn't a good idea. I literally was FUCKED up by the end of the game.. I never was good at video games.

5pm. We decide that we're pretty hungry, so we stumble over to the cafeteria to eat.

After a little bit more of messing around in the room, we'd had enough and headed out to the bar. Now sitting at the bar, we continued to have the discussion about his relationship troubles, and tried to figure out what to do for him. Now I'll admit, I like giving advice, but one can only take so much of this. So I propose a suggestion. Let's take a road trip. After little discussion we decide we are going to do it and narrow our choices to three locations.

Boston- Tyler has a really good friend in Boston and we could go there and stay for free. (Ruled out because of the 13 hour drive.)

New York City- We both have friends here we could have stayed with.. (Ruled out because I've been there 4 times already this year.)

Philadelphia- I've really wanted to go here for a few years.. plus I see a chance to take another risk.. (Philly won)

After about 5 more beers, we head back to the room to rest up for the drive.. its about 2:30.

7am. Depart for Philadelphia.

7:30am. Tyler buys a six pack of Tall Budweiser cans.

9am.. Tyler's six pack is gone as we are hitting the Pennsylvania border.

2pm.. Arrive in Philly.

Now we got to Philly and did a lot of little sight seeing things, ate some food, drank a lot of beer, as is evident by me sitting in the hotel room at 11:30 writing this blog, because I gave up on trying to wake Tyler up to go out.. (He passed out cold about 3 hours ago.. literally will not move).

So I guess this is where the idea has came into my head that taking all these risks may not be the best thing ever. I mentioned earlier the "fairy-tale" ending analogy. If any of you have read my other blog or saw my facebook or really know anything about me, you probably have some idea of why I chose Philly as a destination. I guess you get this idea built up that maybe if you show up you'll have the ability to sweep someone off their feet, and get the ending you've been hoping for. But really.. honestly it doesn't work out like that. Realistically, maybe it isn't possible. You finally get here and get the picture that when summer ends, and "real" life comes back, things don't work as you hoped.

I quess my question is why don't things work like that. And that is why I'm not ready to give up on risk taking yet. Maybe summer flings working out beyond that isn't realistic. But why shouldn't be. If you like someone during the summer, why should it not be realistic to like them at other times in your life. The answer is.. it is realistic. If something's real.. its real, no matter the time. If it's not real.. it's not real. When something's not real you can live with it. It's harder to stomach it when you think it is.

The fortunate thing for me, and all other who experience these situations.. is life, friendships, and relationships will continue on.

Look, if risks don't work out for me in these writings, don't give up on taking yours. Everything is different for different people. And maybe someday you'll get your "fairy-tale" ending. So go for it.

Until then..

Much Love,
B