Day 1228

Sam approached our “new neighbors” with curiosity this morning, but after a few sniffs and a second look, he seemed to decide they were relatively harmless. The unexpected can be like that! With any surprise comes that split second of decision-making. Is it safe? How do I feel about this opportunity? Do I advance or retreat?

There are times when you can stop for a moment and take stock of the situation. Other times, you must simply jump right in or rapidly retreat. Past experiences can guide you on that choice. I will pull over in my car for a dog running in the road without much regard for life or limb, but hesitate when there is an opportunity for adventure.

For example, snorkeling in the ocean might take me a moment to decide whether it is a good choice. However, if I wait too long, the opportunity is lost and I only get to hear about the adventure secondhand! In retrospect, both result in a feeling of accomplishment and doing the right thing at the moment.

So grab the adventure and “leap before you look,” if you can! Otherwise, take a sniff and analyze the outcome for a brief moment. Just don’t miss anything in life because you wait too long to decide!