One story I remember was about a family of wild mushroom hunters who mistakenly ate the wrong type of mushroom. Their fortune was such that they did not expire immediately - although I am told that some of the fatal mushrooms can take many weeks or even moths to kill you - not for these folks. From that point until the ending of their days they would need to take medication, some tonic that would some how negate the effects of the toxins building up in their livers. Something like that. The details are irrelevant really. It is the general principle that you might eat something that could kill you, fast or slow. Or advance and accelerate the debilitation of one's health. that was always something that put me off foraging for mushrooms. But like all things it is a question of knowing the boundaries, knowing the difference between what will cause you harm and what will cause you to repair and grow.
"Never stick a knife in a toaster." My parents told me.
"Don't eat the red berries."
"Don't step into fast traffic."
These things stick.
It didn't stop me skiing couloirs or free climbing.
"Take one step at a time."
I learnt that much.
That said, there is a lot to be said for jumping in at the deep end.
Just as long as either:
a) You already know how to swim, or
b) You are with someone else who can (and is willing to) save you if you get into difficulty.
As for me, I ate the mushrooms. It was a matter of trust. That could be a subject for another time though.
I am just silently edging my way in through the door. Let's not rush things.
