Recently, an innovator by the name of Dean Potter passed away while practicing one of his many crafts, wing suit flying. If you haven't read the articles, a quick Google search will yield plenty. But one idea that consistently arose again and again was the idea of risk, and that he finally pushed too far.
Often in my endeavors to live a little and experience more, people warn me of the risks and cite the worst case. Friends and family say they are scared for me and what I'm doing; but when I tell the stories later on, they praise them. It's strange to keep getting these mixed messages for doing the things that I love. But let me make it clear that I do these things out of passion, not adrenaline.
This isn't a high that I'm chasing, or a buzz that has to keep being sought after. I'm not thrill seeking, I'm doing what I love, and if I do get my adrenaline going, then something has gone wrong. The whole point of what I do is to be consistent, plan ahead, focus, remain calm and occasionally enjoy the view. I'm not going out trying to prove anything to anyone, but instead, to refine my skills, push myself and grow from the experience.
In the end, am I taking a risk? Of course. But we take risks all the day. As Alex Honnold has said, we drive every day, that's a huge risk but it seems so normal that no one bats an eye. I am taking a risk that I deem acceptable for the reward. My risks are no different from any one else's, other than the environment in which they are made.
