Valentine's day and the meaning of life

Someone wished me Happy Valentine's Day today. A female. Pretty cute female too. A stranger. Possibly married, possibly single, possibly a serial killer... who knows? It was the check-out girl at K-mart. See I was buying some Little Debbie Cupcakes, and as I was leaving she turns to me, as if on autopilot, and says "Happy Valentine's Day." Wow. I was taken aback a little. That was totally unexpected. Yes it's Valentine's Day, but no one wishes ME a Valentine's Day, not even my parents ... And believe me when I contend that I don't say any of this out of self-loathing. I say this as fact. It's scientific. It's cause and effect. I don't have a girlfriend. Significant other. Wife. Partner... etc. And I haven't had one "officially" in over a decade. It's pathetic I know, but it seems that I just don't put myself out there. It's my fault. I'm too shy and stubborn to take any risks that could reap a bounty of rewards beyond my imagination. And so there you have it. Risk.

Risk is the meaning of life I believe. After all, it's what drives all life on earth. It's what causes the best of the best of every species to survive and ascend to the next level of evolution. Just think of the salmon swimming upstream during spawning season, with many of them dying on the way. They're risking their lives to further their species. Anything, any successful anyone RISKED. Any relationship from plutonic to romantic is about risk. The best of the best risk.... seemingly everything, and many times they fall flat on their faces and have to pick themselves back up. But when it DOES pay off... it PAYS. Boy does it pay. And the thing is.... why the hell not? This is the only life any of us will ever have, if we don't risk and put the only real tangible asset we have in our entire life on the table, then honestly... why the fuck live at all?

Happy Valentine's day. Hmm... It's easy to be all sappily poetic and obsess over the haves and have nots. Over what could've been, would've been, should've been, etc. All real rewards in life are earned. And the way you earn is you pay for it with yourself, your dignity, pride, money, property, life, (insert category here).

Nothing is free. Nothing.

Before there was civilized society as we know it. Before there was modern trading structures, currencies, barter systems.... Before there was any sort of beginnings of a modern economic system.... there was risk.

Risk is the only real currency we have, but many don't want to spend it. They'd rather hide it in their mattress......

....or something.