THE WISDOM OF THE IVYVERSE

       Risks are a natural part of life. That is not to say you should barge into the unknown without calculating any path; it is just to say that even if you play it safe, you can’t be guaranteed a trouble-free road. It is best to try to live in such a way that you are not jumping at every shadow behind a tree:

“You can’t just go ’round suspectin’ everyone’s a criminal.” —Francis, Book 1, Chapter 7

       But once you know a person well, trusting them not to hurt you—trusting them to have your best interest at heart—should be a natural step. You should always trust yourself first and foremost, but when a person has a lot of knowledge or experience in a field, it is a gesture of good will to allow them to prove that they know what they’re doing. Despite having a fear of heights, Zeke once trusted Ivy to take him flying, and had this to say much later:

“I kept flying with you, and it came clear to me how the whole world can open up when you’re flying. It’s a totally amazing feeling, like a discovery, and now, thanks to my trust in you, I don’t even get dizzy anymore, and I can look down. . . . ” —Zeke, Book 3, Chapter 7

       Forging a relationship based on trust can be difficult. If you expect someone’s trust right away, sometimes they will be reluctant to give it, like when Ivy wanted answers from Bailey on the first day they met:

“Well, would you mind if I was the first person who mattered?” —Ivy, Book 1, Chapter 18

       But the way Ivy got around this was to trust Bailey first:

“I’ve been through it too, I know what it’s like—I just answered a bunch of your questions. I’m just curious about what you do. I won’t treat you like a total freak, I promise. I know what that feels like.” —Ivy, Book 1, Chapter 18

       Bailey, of course, responded by letting Ivy in. Cautiously at first, but soon enough the two knew everything about each other and behaved like sisters. A little leap of faith goes a long way.