Most Likely a King Cobra

Yesterday, I grabbed the tail of a venomous snake. It was most definitely unintentional, as it was the product of me carrying a 20 pound bag across algae blanketed rocks across a spring wearing flip flops I bought from old navy for three dollars during a black Friday sale. The three towels, wallet, headphones, and couple cans of seltzer in the long run, would've most likely not been worth the fatality from the snake bite. Since, the outcome was a fortunate one I got over the slimy residue left on my hand and enjoyed the refreshing gulp of a cold seltzer on a hot afternoon.
                                                    This experience was not an anomaly.
I push myself, and my own limits continuously whether it's something as petty as carrying too heavy of a load across a river bank or carrying a heavy load trying to balance professional and social life. Regardless, just like my bag from yesterday I make sure everything fits. Sleep usually doesn't get in the way as insomnia runs in my family but getting home around 10, falling asleep at 2:30, 3 every night and waking up at 6:00 seven days a week began to take a toll on my energy, and sometimes my immunity. Monday through Friday would entail school, the sport of the season, mock trial, then either crossfit or practices an hour from home. Saturday and Sunday were reserved for softball tournaments at the dome, cleats filled with the uncomfortable little astroturf tire bits, and popped ears from the change in pressure walking into the dome. Some days the only thing keeping me sharp was the flat syrupy coca cola purchased at dawn hours before.
Rereading the above paragraph, it sounds like the same message would have been delivered if I stated I spent Monday through Sunday in a cement square building that had iron bars over all windows and was encompassed by barbed wire fences and conspicuous video cameras, but to be honest I loved it. I would be lying if I said I woke up every morning with a spring in my step ready to take on the world, run a marathon, save the rain forests, and stop global warming,--or whatever Oprah does. In fact during winter most mornings were a battle between me and my alarm clock, and who was most persistent. My alarm having superior stamina buzzing every 2.5 minutes won--typically--but I would dreadfully get out of  my bed with a box of tissues in one hand and a bag of cough drops in the other.
Looking back in this past year is what I'm going to remember: mock trial winning counties, the success of varsity softball team, placing in science Olympiad, and earning front page article on an issue of the school newspaper. I will remember working hard, and doing everything in my power to achieve what my mind has been set to whether its  meeting deadlines, or  being able to deadlift over 80kg.
In my opinion, moderation is not only relative, but a load of crap. If you crave something you don't shrug and say "Oh well I've already put 75%  of my effort forward so if it doesn't work out it wasn't meant to be." People are incredible and should take control of everything in their power. Seventh grade I was diagnosed with mononucleosis and tried to continue to play sports and ended up missing two months of school. Fall of sophomore year I was told my Celiac panel came back irregular and that I must stop eating gluten permanently. As soon as I heard that news I ate a bagel; let's just say that did not go well for me nor the person whose house I was staying at. Those were foolish limits to push as they were for the most part not in my control, and for the portion that was I made the completely wrong decision. As for staying awake the extra few hours, studying the next few pages, or running the next few miles, not doing so is inexcusable.
I was lucky that the outcome of me grabbing the snake's tail wasn't the same as the gluten and mono scenarios. I would be perfectly content if I never have to get snake venom sucked out of me for the entirety of my life;yet just like I was determined to make it over the waterway and enjoy my already sizzling seltzer, I don't let an 8 feet long, 2 feet wide snake scare me from enjoying other aspects of my life.