The Price & Prize of Gambling

This afternoon I received some software that I had ordered; an video editing package. I was very anxious to try it out because of the price I'd bought it for. See, I'd got it on an online auction site for about a third of the retail price, so naturally I was a wee bit suspicious. Not enough to prevent me from buying it, obviously, but I knew it was a gamble. Well, I'm happy to report that it's fully functional and totally legit. Phew. I'm not a great gambler by nature (most of my bets are well hedged) but I am learning to take occasional calculated risks. Giving up what you have in exchange for an uncertain chance of gain is a practice that's frowned upon by some and extolled by others but in spite of all opinion the fact remains: we would still be in the Stone Age without it. Safe money will only get you so far. Eventually you will (if you wish to continue advancing) need to put your time, your resources, your reputation or your emotions on the line. If you've been burned in the past or are naturally cautious this will be no easy task. Once bitten, twice shy is a true maxim but If you fall off a horse, get back on is a better one. It's possible, I suppose, to live an entirely safe life - but if this is your chosen route be prepared to sacrifice adventure, beauty, not guaranteed a return. True, sometimes you will lose. Occasionally you will lose badly. No one said there wasn't a cost. But before we get frightened away by the prospect, we must ask ourselves - what are we paying for? Then, taking all that into account, is it worth it? Every individual has to ask and answer those questions for themselves; I can only give an opinion and my own findings. From that standpoint I say it is worth the panic and the pain - not because these things are light matters but because the prize is so magnificent.