To the generation who never learned to take risks,
To take the risk or to not take the risk? That is always the question stuck in our heads.
I would never classify myself as a risk-taker, no one would. I have always been the girl who plays it safe. I like to stay where I’m comfortable and do what I know will always work out. I feel as if most of my generation would agree that they do the same thing. We were never introduced to risk-taking. Most of us are stuck on the idea that "if it's meant to be, it will". Yes, that's a great saying and something great to believe it. But faith is nothing without works. Believing is nothing without trying.
Recently, something hit me, something shook me and I took a giant leap of faith, unsure of what the outcome will be. It was scary taking that risk, but something was telling me that if it worked out the way I wanted it to – that it would be worth it. It would be so so worth it. So I did it. I risked it all and the unknown outcome makes my heart race.
Our generation has somehow lost the magic of risks. We like to sit around and plan out our lives to a tee and never stray from the path. We go to class, eat, study, sleep (a little), and repeat. There’s hardly ever any spontaneity or changes in anything. If you change your major, you’re asked a thousand questions. If you stray from the usual schedule of everyday life, you’re interrogated. It’s honestly hard for our generation to risk it all when we grew up in a society that played it safe.
The thing I’m constantly reminding myself of is that this is the prime time for us to risk it all. To do things we never thought we would. To make decisions that will help us decide who we truly are and what we really want to be in the world. Our generation doesn’t take advantage of that enough. We were programmed to know what and who we were before we even stepped foot on a college campus. We are constantly studying and worrying about the future, about jobs, about salaries and we aren’t risking enough to gain the priceless things in life.
If you’re not willing to tell the boy of your dreams that you like him, will you ever find another love so pure?
If you’re not willing to change your major because you hate what you’re studying, will you ever love your future job?
If you’re not willing to make decisions that will change your life, will you ever become who you’re supposed to be?
I’m not saying you need to go and say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, but almost a kind of “Carpe Diem”... Seize the day! And seize what you want because you never know what will work out in your favor. Live a little. Go see people you haven’t seen in a while, tell that boy that you like him even if you’re not sure what he feels, go to your dream school, change your major, join a Greek organization. Be yourself. Don’t let other people make your decisions for you. They’re YOUR decisions for a reason.
One day, you don't want to sit and look back on your life and ask, "What if?" So don't.
Sincerely,
Someone who regrets risks not taken.
Someone who has seen the rewards of risks.
