Thursday, October 9, 2008

Take A Chance

There's a quote I read once and I liked it so much that I had it framed and it sits in a prominent place in my apartment where I can see it every day. Sometimes I think people, myself included, are too afraid to put themselves out there, to take risks, to let themselves be vulnerable every once in a while.

This whole blogging experience has been a huge risk because at the end of the day, there are no guarantees. I chose to title my blog "5th Time's The Charm", yet it has ended up being something of an unresolved issue for me personally. So I did compete in the Olympics for a fifth time, but it was certainly not "the charm" that I had envisioned for myself.

Yet, I was willing enough to put it out there, that that was my dream and my goal and even though things didn't turn out the way that I might have hoped, in some ways it has forced me to appreciate everything that I have encountered along the way. Not to evaluate my life solely in terms of achievements, trivial or monumental, important as they may be, but instead allowing myself to be fulfilled by the experiences that I've had, the friends that I've made and the challenges that I've overcome.

The ride continues to be outstanding and in some respects maybe "the charm" has been in the doing all along and my willingness to take a chance on myself and only now have I begun to fully acknowledge, understand and cherish that. So maybe it was a charm after all...

That being said, here's that quote:

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom
Only a person who risks is free.

--Anonymous Chicago Teacher

12 comments:

Eternal Lizdom said...

Along with risk is regret. A quote I used to have on my wall but lost years ago- but it's never left my heart...

It's better to regret something you've done than to regret something you chose not to do.

Bodies By Joice said...

Jackie Jack Jack

I love it

Jx

anonymousnupe said...

'Tis better to have jumped and lost than never to have jumped at all.
--Alfred Lord Tennyson

Anonymous said...

Deep. I Love That. :)

k. carli said...

Jackie! Love this. Everyone who has ever accomplished anything, has done so because they took a risk. Absolutely encouraging - particularly during uncertain times as have befallen us. This is a good take away for us all. :0)

Many thanks for sharing..

Kinta

Anonymous said...

Something I needed to read today.

Rusty J said...

love this entry. how long have you been blogging?

i would appreciate any blogging advice you could give me. =)

could you spare a few minutes for some tips and a critique of my blog?

best,
rusty j

Anonymous said...

The Best Blog !!!

Garret said...

I stumbled on your blog. It's awesome. Please continue inspiring others! And yes, your friend is probably gay.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

a person after my own heart - thats what i say as well

Anonymous said...

Great blog very inspiring
Thx Keep up the good work!!!

Anthony Stanley

Jackie E. said...

thanks everyone...appreciate the commentary!