… you have to be willing to take risks.
Many people prefer comfort of security over the excitement of taking risks. They would rather sit inside the safety of their comfort zones and watch the world go by. As a result, they miss out on much of the good life. Blind and deaf American author and political activist Helen Keller understood this well. As she put it, “Security is mostly a superstition…Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” What she is saying is that if you want to get the most out of life, you have to be willing to take risks. Doing so not only adds excitement to our lives, but it also enhances our self-confidence, self-respect, personal growth and sense of accomplishment. This is what American poet Robert Frost meant when he said, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I . . . I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” So make it a point this year to take a few risks. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Hey Ross – Happy New Year and here’s to taking risks! Great note this week. At the “risk” of getting political, I believe too many people today have become so risk averse that they have chosen to rely on the relative security of the government. In the end, that may turn out to be an enormous risk in and of itself. As far as taking the road less traveled, I like Yogi Berra’s approach: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it”. Cheers! gm
Dear Gary,
Thank you so much for your comments regarding my Weekly Reminder a few weeks back. Happy New Year to you as well. I have to say, I’ve taken Yogi Berra’s fork in the road many times. All the best to you, Ross.
Hey Cuz! Happy New year…must be in my gene pool; I recently stepped up at age 71 to my community and was sworn in to the local School Board! A high profile job at times, considering we are in a contract negotiation year, severe cut backs in contact days with students and funds from who-knows-where??$$$ Risky? I never thought about (wishing my phone # was unlisted, that perhaps my popularity rating might go down….) RISK? Goes with the territory, to go out and stand for something and problem solve, bring Community together for the sake of stabilizing education….. I felt, in retrospect, as a member of this fine and burgeoning community for 17+ years now, that I had time, a skill set, experience in the trenches(classrooms, K-12 + 26 years…) And that it was time to give back some donor hours, a volunteer average 9 h/p/wk at least, j-o-b in which I WOULD LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. And that might keep my brain ticking and the “risk ” factor will be well worth it. I believe Helen Keller was right. Thanks for your weekly inspiration…keep that toilet brush swishin’
Dear Patti,
Thank you so much for your comments regarding my Weekly Reminder a few weeks back. Sorry I haven’t gotten back, but have been out of town working. It sounds like you have a full plate for 2013. All the best to you, Ross