Growing up, many of us are taught to avoid uncertainty. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, they say. From our earliest days, we’ve been hardwired to seek patterns and predict future events in order to help us survive. It’s human nature.

I am sometimes completely mortified when I think about some of the things I have said or done around my children. If you use an Apple computer, you too are probably often distracted by memories as random photos pop up on your screen. Staring at an old photo of my two girls when they were toddlers (they will be sophomores in college this fall), I recently remembered how difficult it was to get them dressed and ready for school in the mornings.

When we join a club, we commit time, money, or both to attain membership, and in so doing, receive nominal benefits like access to activities or a swimming pool or holiday festivities. But we also get something more.