Challenge Accepted

In my head (don’t tell me you don’t want to be there), there is a big difference between “dares” and “challenges.”  I’m so incredibly risk-adverse that I blow off any type of dare.  It’s been like this since I was a child. Observe:

Another child:  I dare you to climb to the top of that tree.

Me:  No thanks.

However,

Another child: Who thinks they could climb to the top of that tree?

Me: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

I would then try ineffectively to shimmy up a tree.  I’d only manage to get one or two feet off the ground.  I never had good gross-motor skills.

It wasn’t always physical challenges that prodded me to take on a challenge.  There were academic challenges too.

Math teacher:  Ok, it’s time to review our algebra homework.

Me: AAAAARRRGHHHH.  Math is hard.

However,

Math teacher:  Ok, here is an extra-credit algebra worksheet.  You get 1 extra-credit point for each problem you answer correctly.

Me: I’ll take two, please.

Now, I was no great-shakes at math, but that’s besides the point.  If you try to motivate me to achieve a goal by betting me I could never do it, well, you’d be right.  If some one thinks I’m unable to accomplish something, and they tell me so, I have no desire to prove them wrong. 

But if you simply present me with a lofty goal, I’ll rise to meet that challenge.

And sometimes I succeed.

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