We All Walk A TightRope

Seeing someone high up in the air, walk a tightrope without a safety-net is something that has left audiences amazed for centuries.  In the present day we might look at someone performing such an act and wonder how they could be willing to take such a risk.  There are probably many explanations for the behavior but I would argue that most, if not all of us walk a kind of tightrope everyday:

1 – 15 to 30 year mortgages are something that I still struggle to wrap my head around.  Who knows precisely what their financial situation will be in the next 2-3 years let alone 15-30.  However, people are more than willing to take the risk of bearing that financial responsibility knowing that when they want to sell, it might be hard.  Also, knowing that economic shocks eliminate jobs from time to time and put people’s income on pause.  Not saying people shouldn’t do it, but it is a risk.

2 – Paying exorbitant amounts for healthcare insurance while at the same time doing little in the way of preventative care for your own body (I mean primarily exercise and diet).  I think many people equate having healthcare and making regular doctor visits to being healthy.  I have many family members who have doctors who have been telling them to lose weight for decades.  And even losing limbs to diabetes hasn’t sparked a desire to make changes.  I say to myself, “So you pay all this money for insurance to visit a doctor who tells you something I’ve been telling you for free?  I’m your flesh and blood and you’ve seen me lose 100 pounds and keep it off for 2 decades!”  

***Not to knock doctors but in traditional medical school doctors don’t get taught about nutrition or exercise.  So many Primary Care Physicians may recommend weight loss but may not have the specific lifestyle adjustments to give a patient.  

3 – Speaking of money, again, Social Security.  France just extended the age for full Social Security benefits by two years from 62 to 64.  People have been saying for years that Social Security might run out in the US.  I don’t know if that’s true or not but talk about a risk:  Most people have zero interest in developing any financial literacy but we spend like tomorrow ain’t comin’ !  And I guess we just assume the government will have our back when we get old?

The point is that every path in life and every choice we make has a potential downside and we all need to get better at risk mitigation and doing the simple tasks of life well.  If you don’t know where to start, work on exercising regularly, eating real (not processed) food, and learning to budget.  Throw in treating people with kindness and communicating as honestly as possible, and you have some simple (not easy) strategies that can be a very potent hedge against lots of risk.  Not all risk, but lots.