I was in a group of about five adults and the prompt for the question was: How do you see yourself as different from how you were in high school? Now for me, being one of the youngest at my workplace, high school really wasn't too long ago. But for many of them this question required a lot of reflection. They each answered, all of them reiterating the same thing: "I was SO idealistic then. I thought I could do anything." I listened, a little confused. They were saying this as though it was a bad thing. Actually, as the conversation unfolded I came to find that's exactly what they meant.

What's wrong with being idealistic about the future, thinking you can accomplish everything? Sure, you can run the risk of being too prideful or loose touch with reality, but hopes and dreams and beliefs -- now isn't that what makes life exciting? You see, the worst thing that can happen is you fail. That's right: you fail. But if you believe that God has a plan -- which I do -- then who cares about failure? At least you tried. It's not to say that I want to go accomplish a task, like say, a marathon with no training (then you fail and die). However, what if you do run a marathon ... try to run a marathon (training and all) ... and you just can't finish. OH WELL. Personally, at eight-eight-years of age, when I'm sitting in my rocking chair, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, and a far away look in my eye, I'll feel satisfied, not because I succeed, but because I TRIED MY BEST.