Trading Stupid

For my first trade on my new laptop, ETFC! I missed the early swings and bought it at a near term high then watched it whip around for a while and finally sold it at... +0%, a few hundred bucks.

Not a disaster on what looks like a crazy day.
 
Disappointing but educational morning. Bought JNPR on the open thinking it would bounce. It did, but hours later, and at that point I got greedy and waited for it to go higher... at which point it collapsed back to below my purchase price. Sold for a small profit, but essentially another +0% day.

Makes me want to break my margin rule.
 
Been away from the market for about a week and, looking at the bloodbath and my strategy for going long, that's almost certainly for the best. Had a family emergency on Friday and decided that with my bold, irrational moves earlier in the week I would be well served to take some time off.

Still up a bit less than 23% on the year, and if it looks like there are good options tomorrow I'll give it a go.

I think I failed to take the sudden gains seriously and felt more secure playing fast and loose with them. The losses felt plenty real, however, and I think I've swallowed that lesson now.
 
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