"When you play it too safe, you are taking the biggest risk of your life!" -Barbara Sher
About 2 weeks ago, I had listed out some ideas for posts that I wanted to cover at some point. The title was, "What Are You Risking." I had not chosen the quote, nor had I chosen the content, but I am always drawn to the idea that you have to risk something before you can gain something. To give you some insight into how these posts develop, most times, I have either a quote, or a story in mind and then I dig up something to fit the rest of it.
This idea hit me when I was watching my two son's soccer games. The first game was my 9 year old son's game. I was watching, and waiting, as he was getting ready for the kickoff after the other team had just scored. As I watched my son intently, I noticed when he kicked the ball, it barely made it the 4 feet to his team mate who was waiting for it to arrive. It seemed a little odd to me that he didn't put much behind the kick, but I hollered at him to go after the ball and help his team.
At this point I didn't think too much more about it until I went to watch my younger son who was 6 years old play his game. As I stood watching and waiting for this younger group of kids line up for a similar kickoff after the other team scored, I noticed a very different scenario. This group of 6 year old kids kicked that ball as hard as a 6 year old could, and then, in a well choreographed surge, they all took off after the ball.
I stood there thinking and contemplating about the two separate games and the two very different approaches that these groups of kids demonstrated. I realized what I just saw is what many of us do with our own lives.
As we age, maybe looking for a safe haven from life, work, or our daily routines, we become safe. Maybe we stay at that job that we have been at forever, because it is safe and comfortable. Maybe we don't approach or talk to that one person, because the rejection would be too humiliating. Maybe we stay the same because the change is too hard. Whatever it may be in our lives, let's start looking at it from the 6 year old perspective. Kick it hard as you can and then run after it with everything you've got.
I am not saying to go out and quite your job on the spot, but maybe start looking for something else. Say hello to that person that looks familiar to you, but you are not quite sure from where. Realize that indeed, you do need to make some changes and then make small changes. One day you will wake up after making many small changes and realize that the biggest change of all has occurred, YOU have improved.
The bottom line is this... take action on a decision that you have been putting off for some time now. Take a risk and reap the reward!
