What I want to say this month is thank you. Thank you, fellow bloggers, for articulating your risks, for sharing them with me, for inspiring me to keep taking my own. I am so grateful.

You’ve reminded me that it’s risky to love openly, risky to work at what you love, risky to speak and hear the truth, risky to be creative, and risky just to get out of bed some mornings. Again, thank you; I need to be reminded that I’m taking risks all the time. When I pay attention, I see that I’m actually braver than I realized.

Here’s an update on my last two blogs:

In November, I said I wanted to risk relaxing about my daughter’s homeschool progress, and trust that all would be well. I’ve continued to learn about more relaxed approaches to homeschooling, and I’ve let some things go. I haven’t completely relaxed, but I’ve opened my mind and heart a little.

In December, I wanted to risk asking questions. I have questioned a lot in the last month, and come up with some answers that surprised me.

This month I’ve recognized another kind of risk, one I hadn’t thought about in a while, and it’s a risk I don’t want to take. I’m talking about the risk of playing it safe. It’s clear that being creative, going out on a limb, starting a business, making art, and generally veering off the beaten path are risky ventures. But what do we risk when we don’t do those things?

We risk a life of boredom, depression, and inertia. We risk losing touch with our souls. We risk missing out on our passion.

I’m a firm believer in stability, but I know that once I have a stable base (for me, a wonderful home and family), it’s time to build something fabulous on top of it. That’s why, despite my fears, I’m venturing out to work on some exciting projects this winter. I know I’m taking some risks, but the risk of lost passion is greater.

Thanks for being my risk-fellow.

Carolyn Cook is a sometimes peaceful, sometimes frazzled individual who works to raise a daughter, build a marriage, and explore the human condition through theatre, art, music, history, literature, and relationship.
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