I've been offering unasked-for advice lately to friends about doing things that scare them. Not the Fear Factor kind of scare - that sort will leave you with nightmares. No, I mean doing things with your life that scare you, like taking risks, making that step when you can't be sure of the results. That sort of thing.

My rational is that life is short, and the quality of your life is reflected in the risks you take, the fears you face up to and get past. They will leave you not only more capable of handling the next crisis that comes along, but with more capacity to enjoy the experience. And besides, when you're on your deathbed, do you want to look back and realize that your life was a long series of safe stuff, colored in pastel? or do you want to see at least a few bits of real color? 'Cause that's what you're going to remember and appreciate - the things that got your blood going and your heart racing.

In any case, I just did something that might seem small in the large scale of scary things, but it has left me feeling mighty good about myself and now I want everyone to do something scary, just so they can share in this feeling I have.