Martha Beck
Risk:
Every Day, Do at least one frightening thing that contributes to the fulfillment of your desires.I can say that at this time in my life, I really do not need to do one frightening thing a day…. Maybe one a week is ok. In one sense I am a very conservative person and most people would say that I am not a risk taker… I am a safe person; I am not daring in the sky-diving, cliff-climbing, drive fast or reckless sense of the word. But if you look at some of the things that I have done in my life, they are daring or risky in another sense.
Most days, when I was growing up, just living in my house was frightening. At 17 I went to Manhattan for a college course for high school students… when I later attended Parson School of Design, also in Manhattan, I lived in Astoria, Queens and commuted on the subway. Back then it was what I needed to do because I wanted Parsons so much. Later, when I went back and really looked at the place where I lived, I could not believe it. I must have made my Mother and boyfriend (who is now my husband) so nervous during those years… but I was following my dream.
My husband and I went through 6 years of infertility and then adopted two beautiful children….Six years ago we packed up everything and moved 3000 miles to start over…Three years ago I was given the diagnosis of breast cancer… I chose every treatment that would reduce my risk of reoccurrence.
So when I read this chapter… I understood what Martha was saying, but right now I am not in “survival” mode. For once in my life I can stop and just enjoy each day. For me, I have to practice just enjoying each day… Many of us who have a lot of turmoil or risk in our lives do not really know what to do when it is not there. It is a new normal that we have to get used to. I know many of you reading this may not understand… but I also know there are many of you out there who are shaking their heads in agreement. I have been working hard on the “you are not in survival mode”… but I also know if I am called upon my survival instincts will kick in and I will put up my dukes and fight.
I did move one step closer to one of my professional desires this week… I am not sure if it was risk taking or I just had to set my mind to do it. There is a store locally that I think my artwork would fit in well with. I had the requirements for new artists for awhile but I had just not sent in any samples. So this week I sent in some samples… I will let you know when I hear back from the shop…
This is an older collage that I am using as my vision card this week….