I have recently read your feature “Taking risks makes life worth living” in your last issue. I understand the point you make on it because it is clear that never taking risks in life would make our existence quite dull. Nevertheless, every time someone decides to take risks, possible consequences, which might not be pleasant, should be considered. This is why it is important be aware of the price to pay for risky choices and make sure it is worth it.
As regards my personal experience, last summer I went on a trip to South Africa. It has undoubtedly been the best experience I have ever had. However, not everything ran smoothly because of the risks we took. When we arrived in Johannesburg, we rented a car, a conventional car in order to get to places by car. One of that places was Kruger National Park. Locals advised us to rent a 4×4 so that we wouldn’t get stuck in the middle of Kruger, as they said that not only were there roads in an awful condition, but there were also wild animals, like lions or cheetahs that could jump onto the road. We didn´t pay too much attention to them and we headed the park with our Ford Focus. Oh my god! It was the most awesome and at the same time the most terrifying experience I´ve ever lived. All the views and fields were outstanding and we were enjoying our trip more than ever before, but suddenly, without being aware of it, the car stopped. It ran out of petrol. At that moment, we began to sweat and to feel really anxious. We saw more or less 5 elephants, 2 lions and 7 or 8 cheetahs in front of our Ford Focus, where we spent 4-5 hours until the police came and rescued us.
Since then, I have often wondered why many people act against rules, even knowing it is wrong, risking to be punished. I think that especially young people quite naturally try to challenge society, either consciously or unconsciously It might be due to the idea of being the “coolest”, typical of youth, Of course, it goes without saying that young people are not the only ones who tend to take more risks. But I think that maturity makes people more aware of the possible consequences and hence more cautious.
All in all, I learnt a lesson from my risky behaviour and I have an anecdote to teach my children and a piece of advice to all of you. Don´t get lost in the wildlife if the level of petrol of your Ford focus is low!
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