Our till system rotates funny, thoughtful and sarcastic quotes. I rarely pay attention to them, but then I happened to look down and this amazing quote popped up.

I see this in two different ways really. The first one is quite obvious - why would you jump straight into the water without actually knowing how deep it is and what exactly is below the surface? The chances are that you will drown or get seriously hurt. Or maybe something offers you a drink you've never heard of? You wouldn't just drink the whole glass in one go, would you?

The second one can be a negative one. It can come down to confidence and how brave you are to try new things and something you might be hesitant about. It can also reflect on people you meet along the way. It is never a good idea to rush into trusting someone you've only just met, as people tend to reveal their "true selves" after they get comfortable with you. Unfortunately this has been something I've had to learn the hard way, but in some cases these friendships have gone on for quite a while and I've stepped over that magical trust barrier, because I've felt like "OK, I've tested the waters long enough.". It's never easy to feel like you have been betrayed after you've let yourself become so vulnerable to another human being.

But it can always be a good thing! Protecting your precious soul can make you more independent, as all of a sudden you're not relying on everyone else when you're feeling down or struggling with something on an emotional level. I'm obviously not saying that you should bottle everything up, but certain mental "toughness" can completely change you as a person. It will make you a stronger person, it'll make you appreciate yourself more and you will end up taking a lot less bullshit from people.