Risk Benefit Ratios- To my co-pilot, Erica

I use the term "risk-benefit ratio" every day with colleagues and patients.

A catch-phrase that paints the picture of a decision or act balanced between different concerns, sometimes with competing issues.

You may die from your surgery, but if you don't have it, you will die anyway.

We want to make your surgery safer by sticking a needle in your neck. We could cause a complication but it is unlikely and it will end up safer for your procedure.

All good unless you are the "one percent" who get the complication!

Expand this to Life and the act of living.

Critics point out that dangerous or thrill-seeking activities risk death.

Devil's advocates remind the above critics that driving is dangerous, an earthquake can attack you on your porch or sudden death can occur for any number of reasons.

Where does this ratio lay? Where should it lay for a given individual?

Spendthrift blowing money with nothing to show on retirement or frugal investors living on beans and rice, unhappy all of life but with one million in the bank.

My good friend died on an Alaskan peak but when he drove, he behaved like a fearful grandma.

Run hard until your knees blow out or let your knees blow out from traumatic arthritis from your complacent obesity.

Strive to find that sweet spot where you are living life rather than prolonging the onset of death or hastening the black shroud.