double dare yourself: lose your potential

Everyone who grew up in the states has been dared to do something by their peers, older brother, or a schoolyard bully at some point in their lives.  Whether it was to kiss a girl on a warm, Spring afternoon or to touch your tongue to an icy, metal pole in the dead of winter, we have all been there and all felt the exhilaration torpedo up our spine and bolt down into our finger tips as we weigh the pros and cons of our situation.  It is that very magic that lies within the thrill of "What if?" that causes synapses in our brain to fire and our eyes to sparkle with possibilities. 

Some relish in this sensation, allowing the tingles to spread and empower them.  However, some fall victim to fear, trepidation and the inability to cope with the unknown.  Those who live in fear, act out of fear.  These fearful people are the people who never leave their home town, fight change, and tend to focus on human drama as opposed to humanity and beauty.  Those that cannot embrace adventure miss out on the very essence of life.  Admittedly, extreme sports and adrenaline rushes aren't for everyone, but these are not the defining factors of 'adventure'.  Adventure can be something as simple as stepping outside of your comfort zone: trying a new restaurant, choosing a new vacation spot, or even changing careers. 

So, if we do not allow ourselves to act out of fear- denying ourselves new experiences, ignoring inner desires, and allowing opportunity after opportunity to pass- then we must therefore choose (not by default) to act out of love.  This very act is a feat to be commended.  Now, this may not make perfect sense, but, as usual, my dear readers, I as that you have an open mind.  If you choose to act out of love in regards to adventure, then you are showing this strange, strange world that you do indeed love yourself and want to better yourself.  Never been to France?  Voila: Culture infused vacation... Double whammy.  Need further convincing?  Fair enough....

Around the time I established 'Year of the Yes' (YOTY), I started challenging myself, on occasion, to see if I had the desire and/or discipline to tackle certain tasks.  Exhibit A: Start a blog.  Bam.  Question: Whaaatchya reeeaaaadin'? It has been over a year and its heartbeat is stronger than ever (a big hug and kiss to every single on of you!) and the FBI hasn't squished me like a bug.  Yet.  Exhibit B: I live in Ecuador.  Yeah.  In July of 2011, I slapped down a credit card and said, "YOTY.  I dare me to see this through.  I will get certified and I will move abroad."  Check and check.  By the grace of the universe, and my catlike reflexes, I am still alive, still employed, and doing better than ever.  It takes constant effort and devotion to wanting to be happy and wanting to be better.

Not everything has to be a massive endeavor.  As I wrote this bad boy I challenged myself to memorize how to correctly spell 'endeavor'.  Turns out I already knew and just wasn't confident.  Success.  Some smaller challenges I have presented myself include, but are not limited to:

• writing every single day for a week
• not drinking alcohol for a week (usually in preparation for a week of drinking)
• completing an entire to-do list
• making a new friend
• finish a book in one week
• one random act of kindness per day for a month
• live on a set budget for a month

I am proud to say that I have a pretty solid success rate when it comes to my self-imposed dares, though I have no intention of settling for said level of success.  I have every intention of striving for more and better.  I dare myself to.

It is important, friends, to remember not to come down on yourself should you not destroy your to-do list in a single afternoon or cannot recall the past tense conjugation for "I went" (me fui).  Relax.  Life is supposed to be fun.  Remember fun?  It is that thing we had back in the day when we played barefoot in the streets until the streetlights came on and we drank from the hose when we were thirsty.  (NOTE: Parents of young children: CALM DOWN.  Your child will not die if he stubs his big toe or if she eats a bug.  It's protein.)  Well, amigos, I suggest you start having some fun again, for Pete's sake.  Seriously, Pete wants you to.  He facebooked me.  I am pretty sure he tweeted it as well, however I refuse to get a Twitter, so I will leave that one a mystery. 

Challenge yourself.  Having a hard time brainstorming some awesome double dares?  Allow me.

• Find a hilarious photo that doesn't involve cats and post in on your wall on fb.  Repeat every day for a week.  Then stop.  No, seriously, one week will suffice. 
• Try a new lunch or dinner spot every day for a week.
• Start being nicer.  A lot nicer.  Even to idiots.  You'll feel better, I promise. 
• Make a list of things to clean out, then do it.  Car, wallet, junk drawer... 
• Donate a bunch of old clothes to charity.  No, you don't need 27 puzzles and, no, nobody likes that olive green sweater you always wear. 
• Give the dog a bath.  He's cuter when he doesn't smell like kibbles, bits, and shits. 
• Start learning the language you have always wanted to.  Free apps, people... Zero excuses. 

There is a child in all of us- even you- and you can play off that child in order to better yourself.  Not feeling inspired?  Pick a new goal.  Still nothing?  Pull the ultimate trump card: Triple Dog Dare yourself.  Oh, snap. Nineties reference aside, I am making a serious argument: "I be you..." always entices.  Reward yourself if you make a goal into a reality.  Run 6 miles straight?  Congrats, you earned a massage!  Clean the house and both cars?  You've won a massive piece of chocolate cheesecake!  Promotion at work you finally asked for?  Johnny, show her those new pair of shoes!  (Excited, aren't you? Sucker.)  It, like most Hollywood stars, goes both ways.  Didn't stick to your Double Dare Diet?  Extra laps and sit ups, babe.  Didn't maintain your budget?  Yard work on Saturday.  Didn't study for finals, dude?  Thou shalt host family dinner and listen to Uncle Cletus play his nose whistle.  Eww.

We are all creatures of reward and punishment, be it paternalism (can't speed... cops will catch me...) or masochism (no cake... pants won't fit me...).  Some people respond more to avoiding conflict or punishment.  Some folks lust after the goods that make sacrifice a little easier.  I find, first off, that the more honest I am with you, my internet companions, the more accountable I hold myself.  Let's be honest, I don't want to feel like a dick.  So, in an effort to avoid being knighted with "Dickdom", I will level with you: I respond to both.  (Is anyone surprised?  No?  Yeah.)  Sometimes I gotta jiggle that fat to inspire passing on dessert, and sometimes I don't give half a damn.  Sometimes I reward myself with a vanilla cappuccino and a double-feature movie when I have had a productive and/or healthy week. 

Honestly, friends, it is whatever invigorates us.  Do not let your actions- or inaction- bring bring you to a point where you need not to be invigorated, but resurrected.  Newsflash: That's a tough party trick.  Ask Jesus.

You are awesome.  Whether you know it or not, you are, and the worst possession a person can have when they die is potential.  So, tell your potential to take a long walk off a short bridge.  Eat up that potential for breakfast.  You'll be amazed at all the accomplishments you'll manhandle over the next few months and all the potential you'll shed.  Your potential is weighing you down like the fat on the contestants of The Biggest Loser.  Don't make me strap on my sweatbands and make you cry on a treadmill... I'll do it. 

I dare you to lose your potential, one effort at a time.  Or ten at a time.  Whatever works for you.  Even if you have to start by daring yourself to dare yourself... Double damn do it.

I dare you.

xx.a