Helen Keller, who lost both her sight and hearing in childhood but became a renowned activist and author, said that there is no such thing as a secure life. "It does not exist in nature . . . Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Risk, then, is not just part of life. It is life. The place between your comfort zone and your dream is where life takes place. It's the high-anxiety zone, but it's also where you discover who you are. Karl Wallenda, patriarch of the legendary high-wire-walking family, nailed it when he said: "Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting."
每个从事高空跳伞的人、飞行伞运动员和小翠鸟宝宝都知道第一次走到山崖边非常可怕，但如果想飞，就非走到那里不可。面对现实吧，每一天都可能是你的最后一天，所以光是起床都是孤注一掷。除非愿意面对挫败，否则你不可能成为赢家。不冒着跌倒的风险，你甚至无法站立。
Every sky diver, paraglider, and baby Kookaburra bird knows that the first walk to the edge is scary, but they have to go there if they want to fly. Face it—every day could be your last, so it's a roll of the dice just to get out of bed. You can't be a winner unless you're willing to face defeat. You can't even stand without risking a fall.
出生以来，我每天的生活都是一场冒险，我对能不能打理自己、照料自己不无疑虑。我爸爸、妈妈有双倍的烦恼，因为他们这个孩子不但没有四肢，还整天追求刺激。我无法忍受呆呆地坐在角落，所以老是让自己置身险境，溜滑板、踢足球、游泳、冲浪样样来。我把自己这个零件不足的身体当作没有导航系统的飞弹，到处乱窜。很可笑吧!
My day-to-day life has been a dicey business since birth. There were doubts as to whether I'd ever be able to support or care for myself. My parents had double trouble because their limbless child was also a thrill seeker. I was forever putting myself in danger because I couldn't bear to just sit around and be the kid in the corner. I skateboarded. I played soccer. I swam. I surfed. I threw my poor body around like an unguided missile. It was ridiculous!
