I’m not a risk taker. I wish I could brag about all the cool and dangerous things I’ve done, but I can’t. I think the most “daring” thing I’ve ever done is go snorkling. Or maybe go-karts. Go me!
The reason I’m thinking about this is because of the book I’m working on. My heroine loves skydiving, so I’m trying to show how it makes her feel, the adrenaline, the thrill, etc. and it’s hard to do because I’m thinking, is she insane? Why would anyone ever want to jump out of a plane?
I’m afraid I don’t understand the thrill. I’m perfectly happy sitting at home playing a game of Scrabble, and to be honest, I hate that adrenaline rush you get when you’re in a dangerous situation, so I can’t imagine why someone would try to get that rush on purpose. So that’s why I’m blogging about risk taking today. I want to know why you guys do it! I know Brenda and some of her authors go on rafting trips all the time (another activity I think I’d pee my pants if I did–rapids! The threat of capsizing and being sucked into an eddy? Eek!) and I have friends who have been bungee-jumping (I won’t even consider that). But me? I’ve never done anything risky like that.
So tell me, why would my heroine enjoy skydiving? I need a risk-taker to tell me this so I can work on some proper motivation here! Also, what’s the craziest, most dangerous thing you’ve ever done–and if it was by choice, WHY? LOL
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I’m not a risk taker either. Couch surfing is fun enough for me. But motivations for risk-taking are something I think I understand.
People do it because they can. By that I mean, it’s a stretch to see if their body or mind will allow them to move in that way, and so they keep pushing, waiting to see what they can’t do.
People risk-take because life is too short, and they want to experience it all. They watched someone close to them die. They almost died themselves. They have an insatiable need to see what’s around the next corner. They want to gulp life in in great heaping mouthfuls.
People risk-take because they know they’re going to die. They have the breast cancer gene. Parkinson’s runs in the family. Every relative they ever had on their mother’s side got a brain tumor. They’re trying to beat death to the punch.
People take risks because they love the adrenaline and can’t feel alive without it. Or (and I think this is the most common), they’re young and stupid and have no idea of the consequences of throwing themselves at the mercy of the elements because somewhere deep in their brain they KNOW they’re immortal.
Of the risk-takers I’ve known…
One did die young. 28. In his sleep. I think sometimes the DNA just knows it’s only got a finite amount of time here.
One does it to escape the pain of her past. After all, what else can the world do to her that hurt anything near as much as what her uncle did?
One is bored with life, looking for her niche. She’s never met a challenge she couldn’t conquer, so keep bringing on the challenges. She came from a life of privilege, so she needs to invent her hardships.
And one is truly just young and stupid.
Venus, that is an awesome answer. Thanks for revealing some of the motivations and the risk-takers you know. I guess there are a lot more reasons for taking risks than I thought. I’m thinking of going with the “life’s too short” angle for my heroine…
Dangerous? How about going through drivers’ ed with teenaged boys and letting them get in driving time on the freeway?
“the feel of the wind in your hair and the feel of your pounding heart as you take a curve and lean down low. It is a feeling of euphoria and pure joy.”
That’s a great description. Maybe I should make my heroine a motorcycle junkie instead of a skydiver!
I am not really a risk taker. Sky diving ~for instance~ would be the one of the very last thing I would want to do. I am not a very brave person when it comes to risking my life.