When stakes get high.

I've only taken one psychology class, so I can't claim to know anything about how our brains really work. But I'm going to make assumptions anyways.


I think that humans have experiences on just one scale. Only one.


Let's say this is just a 1 to 10 scale. 1 is mundane life. 10 is your most significant experience. So, what happens is that when you're a little kid, you expand your scale all the time. Your first time up a lighthouse is a 10, because it's the coolest thing you've done so far. Later on in life, you break an arm, and now that's a little more emotional situation, so that's your 10.


It goes on like that. Each experience that outdoes the last sets a new 10, til eventually your old 10 (like climbing up a lighthouse) is only a 2 on your newest scale.


And I think there comes a point where one experience sticks out beyond the rest, and your scale doesn't really expand much more. You get set in a routine, and not much stretches you anymore.


One day it will expand, though. Something will fight for a new 10.


But, when that happens, it's not about the new experience as much as it is how you respond to them.


So, how do you respond when you're challenged beyond anything you've ever done?


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This post is particularly fitting this week because of what's going on with my mom. For those of you who haven't heard, doctors found a tumor in her pancreas and identified it as cancer a couple weeks ago. It was discovered very early, and they should be able to remove it. Tomorrow, she's having that surgery to have the tumor removed.


If you want to know more and/or keep up to date with what's going on, you can check out  http://www.caringbridge.org/vi​sit/dinemitz.