“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.”

~ Katherine Mansfield

I posted this quote recently as part of my Thoughtful Thursday feature.  It’s a quote I’ve been carrying around with me since I was 20.

I’ve written before about my aversion to risk.  Actually, it’s not really an aversion.  Ok, yes it is.  I regret more that I haven’t done than what I have.  It used to be (between the ages of 19 and 25) that the only time I took risks was with the help of some liquid courage and they weren’t necessarily healthy risks.  Then somehow I fell into a cocoon of sorts, insulated from all the things I thought were scary.

Here’s the thing: risk is a requirement for growth.  I don’t think I fully understood that the first time I latched on to this quote.  I’m old enough to have some perspective now, old enough to fully grasp the folly of being risk-adverse, old enough to shake my head and wish for a do-over.  Fortunately, I’m young enough to take action, to bust through the cocoon of comfort and safety.  Fortunately, I become stronger as I get older.

Fortunately, I understand now.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/daily-prompt-quote/