I’ve never been the kind of person who is all about the destination. I like to chase a few rabbits now and then. I enjoy stopping to smell the flowers along the way. But at the same time I’m not one to get bogged down in the past or present. I’m usually eager to move right along after this part is done (just try taking me to the zoo. I can get you in and out in an hour.).
For a long time I felt like this was a bad thing. Especially early on, while people were planning out their lives, where they would be in five years, in ten, I was making baby steps without much purpose. Meandering my way through life. And, quite frankly, enjoying it that way. I never really took myself seriously in anything I did.
Now I know God has designed a special path just for me. There’s one for you too. Mine doesn’t look like yours and that’s just fine. I often tell my kids, you don’t just have to go down the same trail your whole life. For a while I did some teaching, then I got a degree in writing and now it’s photography.
The thing about me is I always approach my ideas with a good bit of humor and internal scoffing:
“Teaching? Really. You don’t even like kids. And you’re really not that smart.”
“Writing? That’s crazy. What will you do with a writing degree?”
“So, you’ve got a blog. Just don’t expect anyone to read it.”
“So you like to take pictures? Big deal. Where can that go?”
Yeah, that’s my head talking to me. Don’t you wish you had one like it?
Last year, I took a risk. I kept telling myself it wasn’t a risk. It was just a thing. A small thing. No big deal if it didn’t work out. No loss. No worries. I’m not a risk-taker at heart. I stay on the familiar path.
But, it WAS a risk. It’s a risk because I hope it will fun/extraordinary/profitable/rewarding/life-changing.
I started my own business this year. And guess what? I love it. I’m passionate about it. It makes me giddy when I’m working on it, whether I’m filing papers, creating marketing products or actually using my camera. And because I care so much about it and the success of it, it’s a risk. A risk that no one will hire me and I’ll feel like my art is useless. A risk that I’ll make a mistake and people will realize I’m human. A risk that I’ll never be able to balance it all and the laundry truly will take over my world.
But I’m doing it anyway and it’s one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done.
ps: this is linked up with The Nester’s National Take a Risk Day.
Pingback: Feature Friday!