Be reasonable...within reason

Seth wrote recently about doing things "within reason." He points out that victory comes from those who do things without reason, who go far beyond what is reasonable in their efforts. I think he has a point...within reason.

Reasonable actions are safe, dependable, reliable, and predicatable. They form the fabric of our lives. When we are reasonable, others can live with us. A reasonable marriage tends to stay together, reasonable parents raise decent kids, and reasonable colleagues are pleasant to work with. However...

The highlights of life do not fit into reason. No reasonable person would fall in love, given the heartache it so often brings. By the same argument, no reasonable person would have children. No reasonable person would join the Peace Corps or the Marine Corps. No reasonable person would start their own business or run a marathon or climb K5.

But what are you going to remember? What will you tell stories about? The reasonable allocation of your IRA contributions? Or the unreasonable decision to adopt an HIV-positive baby girl? The answer is easy.

So be reasonable. That sustains your life. Just don't stop there. Be unreasonable, and make life worth living.