Vulnerable. Growing up, this word may have only existed within a spelling bee context. As children, we didn't have much need for the word, or need to remind ourselves of what it is because we were living it, day by day, until one morning, something changed, and we weren't allowed to be vulnerable.

But why would I want to be vulnerable? Being vulnerable is being weak, right?

Wrong. Vulnerability is not synonymous to weakness.

When we are kids, we run wild in the playground, risk tripping and getting hurt in exchange of a fun time at the park. When we are kids, we seek comfort from our parents to help us and build us up, so that we can grow up and become better. When we are kids, we raise our hands more in class, despite the fact that we could be wrong, or that others might laugh. This is vulnerability. Vulnerability means having guts.

Somewhere along the way, we tend to forget that it's okay. It's okay to say the wrong thing, okay to do something risky, okay to ask for help, okay to trust people you just met. Vulnerability means knowing that it's okay.

Beautiful things happen when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable. When we truly open up, let others see who we are without any fences or safety guards. When we expose ourselves to a new environment, and eagerly let it seep inside. When we take a risk, do something we have never done, gone somewhere we’be never been. Vulnerability means challenging yourself.

Vulnerability means having guts. Means knowing it's okay. Means challenging yourself.

Vulnerability means chance. It means allowing the universe to play you a good hand, or possibly letting you down. It means putting yourself out there, doing your very best, and then waiting for the pieces to fall into place. It can be very draining, and very exhausting.

But mostly, rewarding.

Call me crazy, but I believe vulnerability is worth treasuring. There's far more to gain then there is to lose, so why not try it?

So this term, I am going to challenge myself to be more vulnerable. I am also going to challenge you; comment a time you were vulnerable below, and in next week's article, I will write about a time I was vulnerable.