A two-word phrase that seems to connote everything decent and pleasant. The utterer says it with the softest of voice, warmest of eyes and most gentle demeanour. How can you fault that supposedly kind and caring admonishment? It’s a warning to be on our guard, not to be reckless or undiscerning, not to be impulsive, imprudent or gullible. It is a reminder to do our due diligence and not to plunge in headlong. It is what a caring parent will say to a child, a loving husband to the wife and vis a vis etc. It is above board, it is legit, and it is kosher. But hold on, is it? Is it really what we always need to hear? Is the intention behind those words always noble?
Sometimes those words, sadly do not come from a good place. Sometimes they come from a place of fear, timidity, jealousy and envy. They can be the strongest armoury (if not the only one) in the arsenal of the risk averse. Such words that can halt a warrior in his path. We will never know the number of inventions that have been prevented because someone heeded the ill advise of the uninsightful. When a man is rearing to go, he is all pumped up and is engaged in the warfare dance and all he can hear is a meek and timid voice, saying ‘be careful!’ How demoralising and disengaging that can be. How paralyzing and weakening! When the team has worked hard and ready to face the opponent and all the coach can say is ‘be careful’. When the lover is ready to ravish his bride and all he hears is ‘be careful’ that is enough to suppress any desire. When the explorer is all packed up, ready to commence his journey and all he is told is to be careful. Who tells a rocket before it launches into space to be careful?
Last thing we need to hear sometimes is ‘be careful’. There is a time for everything and ‘Go Tiger’ might just be the appropriate words to give us the impetus required. Depending on how said ‘be careful’ is a short form of be full of fear, care and doubt, do absolutely nothing, stay where you are and rot, do not break new ground, do not forge ahead, take no risk, calculated or not, be mediocre and average and definitely do not break rank and do not think of becoming better than me or us! It is the anthem of the weak and risk averse, the jealous and envious one, the ones that feel you are moving out of your place in life.
My advice is move out of any place you have outgrown, yes take risk, calculated ones, manage your risk, but take them, do your due diligence but still step out in faith, feel the fear but still do it, be curious, engage with life. Do not be full of care, fear or doubt. What has been place in your heart, step out and do, be bold and of a good courage.
Go, tiger! It is about to go down!
Beautiful Ivory 