Dodging Tornados
Last night was a rough one in the Shelton household. Sarah is on a girl's trip out of town, so it's just me and the boys. As we were preparing for bed, the tornado sirens started blaring. We grabbed our stuff and set up shop in the basement, watching the local news coverage on TV. At one point, five tornado systems were in our area, with one heading directly toward our city. Luckily, it shifted directions just enough to barely miss us. Other towns weren't as lucky, unfortunately (check out this wild video captured from the same broad tornado system a few hours before it struck our area). The boys were scared, and there was a lot of anxiety in our house until the wee hours of the morning.
We have blog readers from all over the world, so perhaps some context is in order. While every part of the world has its own array of natural disaster risks, tornados are ours. Unlike earthquakes, hurricanes, or wildfires, tornados are binary. Either they hit you, or they don't. Their paths are narrow, but their impact is significant. If they hit, the destruction can be unprecedented. They are shockingly common here in the midwestern United States. They are far too common, as well. It's typical to have 5-10 warnings each year between the spring and summer months. Needless to say, I'm grateful we dodged another one.
As I'm sandwiched in the downstairs bed with two exhausted and wimpering boys, I can't help but think about how tornados are a great metaphor for life. Many of our decisions carry risk, but not all risks are created equal. Some risks are more likely to materialize, but with a lower downside. Others (let's call them tornados) have a lower likelihood of materializing, but the downside can be devastating. Here are some examples of the two types of downside scenarios:
Decisions With Minimal Downside
Running a red light with an officer nearby
Eating from a questionable street vendor (IYKYK)
Forgetting your spouse's birthday
Making an impulsive financial purchase
Decisions With Devastating Downside
Getting sick or injured without health insurance
Not carrying an emergency fund
Failing to have wills or life insurance
Throwing your retirement assets in single stocks or trendy investment classes
One of my general philosophies of life is to dodge the proverbial tornados. I know I'm going to screw up, and I know I'll get unlucky at times. However, if I can just avoid the tornados, I'll live to fight another day. I'll gladly take two steps forward and one step back, but I can't afford a blistering 25 steps back.
As you read this, reflect on your life and see if you can spot the lingering tornados. What are the decisions that, while lower in risk, have the potential to devastate your life if it goes the wrong way? Once you identify them, I encourage you to take the appropriate steps to mitigate them. Dodge those tornados!