A good friend of mine once told me that most people get a quart container to hold the content of their lives. She said that I, however, had a gallon container, and it still managed to overflow.

My life has been full of risks. I have followed my passions, Making it through my childhood was risky business in the extreme. I declared myself legally emancipated from my family in Maine when I was 17. I moved from New York to California without a job when I was 20. I helped a friend start a new business in San Francisco when all we had were two desks and two phones. I bought a Victorian in the city on my own when I was 24 . The mortgage payments were over $3000, and I was on straight commission. This was more than 30 years ago.

From California, I followed my heart and my boyfriend to Colorado. Later, I married a man with two little girls, signing up for the “all guts, little glory” club of step-mothering. I have suffered through depression, and finally stared it in the face, refusing to be afraid anymore. I took a risk that I could have the disease without it “having” me. And there is more, so much more… I am resilient.

Every day I tell the people I love that I love them. I admit when I am wrong. I laugh at myself often. Today, just before writing this piece, I had to admit to a person I love dearly that my personal flaws were negatively effecting our relationship. I took a chance that I would be understood and forgiven, and thus able to move ahead with our friendship.

So what risk am I taking today? Simply showing up. Showing up to put up my website. Showing up to load Windows 7 on my computer. Showing up to work on my business plan. Showing up to set up my temporary art studio. Showing up to begin work on a new series of paintings. Sometimes the biggest risk we can take is just showing up.

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Roxann Souci As an abstract painter working with brightly colored, translucent acrylics, Roxann expresses her passion through her artwork. "I want to touch touch people's emotions with my art. I want to bring joy". At a pivotal time in her life, her fellow bloggers have been a source of strength and encouragement. Her artwork can be found at her on-line gallery. my website.
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