LaTigresse -> RE: Dangerous Desires (1/15/2007 6:32:08 PM)
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Aileen I have been thinking about this thread since I first saw the beginning and trying to wrap my head around it and understand both your drive and my reaction to it. At first I wasn't going to post anything because I didn't want to say it wrong and be misunderstood. In reading it again and the following threads I had some other thoughts on the whole thing and am going to give it a go. Granted, I certainly don't know the whole story so I can't give a realistic opinion to answer your questions but I can kinda give a couple different thoughts I have had in trying to understand my reaction. The more I thought about it the more I wanted to yell at you to stop endangering yourself, both for you and for those that care about you. Also for the people that depend upon you to be part of their lives. Then I argued to myself that life is full of risks and who am I to say your risks are any different/worse than my driving 50 miles on icy roads to work and then 50 back again or jumping horses. Then I started thinking about degrees of risk and how we calculate risk and the also the need/desires to take them. Then I argued that there are different reasons, some perceived as being more necessary like my driving to work versus say smoking meth for a temporary but dangerous thrilling high, something I cannot fathom doing. Then I realized that there are people that would probably grab the meth before they would even consider the icy drive. Both have odds of killing me yet why does one seem horrible to me and yet the other just something I take more care in doing. Then I came back to your words and I try to put the risks you take into my risk calculating process. For ME, what you are doing is closer to the unimaginable meth smoking than the driving. I have a solid knowing that meth would ultimately hurt me, and my family. The driving, I know that I have made sure to cover as many of the possible dangers as possible, a car I trust to handle well, good tires, knowledge that I am a good driver, drive at slower speeds and give myself more time and room to maneuver, extra clothes if I have to walk, cell phone, etc. In essense my icy road driving safewords. Granted, there are still no guarantees but I am giving myself every possible chance of survival. Then I wonder if I am just validating my point of view for my own risk taking. Another thing I was wondering, is if you yourself were questioning your actions and either seeking validation or condemnation to push you in a direction that at some level you were feeling you should take and just not wanting to face. Not sure, not wanting to make that choice, hoping to hear/read something other than what you already know at some gut level. Obviously thats something that probably only you really know. One thing I do know is that you are an intelligent woman and fully capable of doing your own risk assessment and taking responsibility for it. I guess I still can't understand but I also can't let myself be judgemental and neither should anyone else. We all have to chose our own life paths, do whats right for us while trying to balance it with our responsiblity to others. It's not always easy and sometimes downright painful. Some days it seems life is just a constant balancing act.
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