On Taking Risks

First off, I’d like to make a disclaimer—my mother said no such thing? When I was a teenager, she did sort of look alarmed about some of the decisions I was making. After all, I was beyond carefree back then–I was a lot like she had once been.

But, I’m not so daring these days. The pendulum has swung a little too far to the right. That rebellious risk-taking young woman has grown cautious.

For years, I’ve wanted to get out to writing events. For the same amount of years, I haven’t gone to many events at all. Because I was too shy to go alone. Because I didn’t want to sit by myself. Because I didn’t know if I belonged there.

It doesn’t make any sense at all, now, does it?

Dipping Your Toe into the Water

Last summer, I went to the Festival of Words—an amazing four-day festival celebrating Canadian writers that takes place every July in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan—all by myself. I met amazing writers, including Lorna Crozier, Zarqa Nawaz, Tracy Lindberg, Farzana Doctor, Arthur Slade and so many others. On top of that, I made a lot of friends in the Saskatchewan writing community.

Going it alone

But I still didn’t have many local connections. I had nobody to sit with at community writing events. Ho-hummm. Woe is me.

Last night, I put an end to that, and I’m never looking back. In fact, next time I might bring along something to read to the appreciative crowd. It’s time to step out of my shell.

Please promise me that you won’t limit yourself because of fear/self-consciousness either. We don’t want our loved one to live like that, right? Why do we allow ourselves to settle for less than fulfillment?

A Final Plea

Go to the events that tickle your fancy.

Talk to the stranger waiting behind you in line at the bank.

Try on that red lipstick.

Start crossing things off your bucket list.

There is so much left to discover.