Regular Guy

When I started pledging a fraternity during my freshman year of college, the older guys in the house did all kinds of things to scare the other pledges and me.

They told us about all kinds of horrible things that would happen to us. They really scared a few guys.

I pretty much took it all in stride and gained the respect of the older guys – who never followed through on any of their threats because it was all a game – with one great decision.

I called their bluff.

I learned all of this growing up with four older brothers. Sometimes, it’s easier to be made fun of for not doing something well than it is to be made fun of for not even trying at all.

That lesson echoed in my head the other day at a special picnic we had at work. There were lots of activities, including a climbing wall.

When I first saw the wall, I decided I wouldn’t even go near it. We had the same kind of wall at a similar event a few years ago, and I tried it then.