I had quite possible the best Fourth of July in the book of Julia's life. My favorite part of the glorious day was going to a natural water slide that is nestled into the mountainside near my hometown in Utah. About a mile up the trail is this amazing slick rock that hundreds of people, I'd say, a day slip and slid down for fun. There's even a pool that you can cliff dive into. Of course, I was crazy enough to take the dangerous plunge.
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| Copyright Julia King 2013 |
And I had the courage to send myself hurling down the slippery rock four times. Here's the pictures that were taken to document this momentous event.
Not only am I sort of showing off, but I'd like to make a point by gleaning from this cool experience and applying it to writing or whatever.
Anyone who's seen "The Dead Poet's Society" will know of the phrase: "Carpe Diem - Seize the Day."
In a nutshell, this phrase means you shouldn't let experiences or opportunities pass you by. If you do, then you will be missing out on something truly magnificent. I assure you, I almost didn't go to Sliding Rock, and I would have missed out on such a fun time.
My favorite quote ever is from "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare:
"Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once."
I take this quote as expressing if you don't take risks or man up to the challenge then you will die, not literally, but figuratively. You won't taste of the fruits of the risk. You will not see what beauty awaits you if you forge through the darkness to reach the ultimate happy light by conquering something you never thought you could do. You know what? You may not succeed, but that doesn't matter. The fact that you tried at all is pleasurable enough.
I encourage you to send out that first or 80th query letter. Write that story that has been swirling its brilliant plot in your head. Dive head first into your passions. And go for it!
So, in the coming months, I am going to try something that I never thought I'd do. I'm not saying what it is right now (surprise), but I know that I will die if I don't go down trying.
Do you take risks no matter the cost? How do you live your life with a carpe diem - seize the day attitude?
Writing Jewels
