Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."

— T.S. Eliot

In a recent conversation with someone who is trying to get to know me I was asked if I was "risky" (well actually I am not sure exactly what he asked me, but I interpreted the question to be "how conservative are you or do you live on the edge and take risks". I responded that on a scale of 1-10 I thought that I was about a 7.4 aspiring to be a 7.5. When I told my brother this he laughed at me and told me that I was more along the lines of a 2.8 and that the only thing I ever did that was risky was cut my hair short in a family full of boys who think that short hair is a spawn of the devil. My sister-in-law told me that she thought I was risky in my fashion choices (we had just spent the day in the fashion district in LA where we bought "risky" things like leggings . . .so cute, but that is a separate blog post)

So, given these conversations I have been thinking about the risks that we (I) take and where being adventurous and risky gets us.

I once had someone (a guy that was breaking up with me) use the analogy of porcelain dolls behind glass to protect them and how really are you able to love a doll that is behind glass!? Not so much lovable behind glass, but you can rest assured that the dolls won't be broken that way. Sometimes I think that we put our emotions, thoughts, hopes, dreams and feelings behind glass for safekeeping because there is much less of a chance that they will be broken that way. However, in our efforts to protect these thoughts, feelings, emotions or whatever they might be to ourselves we are also hindering others from knowing our true selves and discovering who it is that we can become and how we can shine to the best of our ability.

Safe is not always all that safe. The person who risks nothing has nothing, accomplishes nothing does nothing and is nothing. Doesn't really sound like the kind of life that I want to lead.

(Thus my desire to be at a 7.5 on my 10 point risk scale).

So, here are the pointers that I found to help me achieve my 7.5 status (I think it might even get me higher than that). . . and I am going to keep my short hair and daring fashion sense as well.

Maybe I should just start with one or two and build from there:

DON'T THINK TOO MUCH BEFORE TAKING A RISK

(this one is tricky, because my mom always taught me to think before I spoke)

WHEN YOU JUMP, JUMP BIG

(I like this one. . . if you are going to do it do it right)

IF YOU DON'T A-S-K, you won't G-E-T.

(true)

EMBRACE FAILURE AND REJECTION

(you would think I would be pretty darn good at this one at this point in my life. . . . I think I am at the acceptance stage, not so much embracing)

FOCUS LESS ON YOUR IMAGE AND MORE ON WHAT YOU WANT

(oh I know what I want, but my image is still part of that right?)

FOCUS ON FACTS, NOT ON FEELINGS

(I think that this is easier for men. Over generalization but I still think that)

PRACTICE TAKING RISKS

(starting today)

ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOSE

(but I thought i wasn't supposed to think about it? -- contradictory)

Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?

I want to be great. . . . . goodbye to being cautious. . . hello to being risky!

Note to my mom: my risks will include physical safety and modest clothing - promise.