I’m one of those people you wouldn’t enjoy watching a movie with for two reasons: 1) I have an obsessive need to know how it will end and 2) in order to enjoy it fully, it has to have a happy ending. If you’ve already seen the movie, I’ll bug you until you tell me what I need to know. If no one is around to tell me how a movie ends, I’ll either suffer through to the end and hope for the best, or I’ll stop watching it ¾ through, if it looks like things aren’t going to turn out well.
I’m equally as annoying when it comes to books. Well, actually, it’s worse with books. If I can become enthralled within the first few chapters of the book I will definitely jump to the end. Most people would lose interest in reading the middle portion when they know how it’s going to turn out. I am rarely disappointed.
What sparked my little confession? An unbelieving friend of mine sent me a book the other day, “The Year of Living Biblically,” by A.J. Jacobs. This past year, I decided that in order to fully absorb what I’m reading I need to read at a slower pace; no more of this reading a book in one or two days. I’ve been so caught up by the author’s, (a self-proclaimed Jewish agnostic), journey. I’ve been fascinated by his quest for the truth. For the last two days, chewing on the stubs of my fingers where nails once grew has been all I could do to keep myself from flipping to the back pages to find out if he crosses the spiritual line. On Monday night, at 10:24 pm, I was unsuccessful in restraining myself any further. I read the end. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you how it ends. You’ll have to read for yourself.
I recognized, after having read the last few pages, (not because of how it ended), this need of mine – the need for a happily-ever-after ending – does not only apply to books and movies. I realized in those few minutes of rumination that I avoid many things that stand a chance of not ending well, - like career choices, relationships, or love – mostly relationships and love. I’m not much of a risk taker. Any risks I take are carefully calculated. I wonder if perhaps there are times when taking a chance is just the wise thing to do?? I once heard that people should love as though there is no risk of getting hurt. I wonder if there’s a book about that. If there is – does it have a happy ending?
Are you a risk taker?
