If you knew me growing up, you’d emphatically agree that I put myself out there. Not in a thrill-seeking, adrenaline pumping kind of way, but more of a let’s-see-if-I’m-any-good-at-this type thing. Student council, writing contests, band, singing, photography, cheerleading, scrapbooking, theater, dance, track, gymnastics … the list goes on and on. Sometimes I’d discover I had a natural ability and other times? Well, not so much. And while there were definitely times I’d have to brush off the old ego, I knew I’d never look back and regret NOT trying.
I read an article the other day about Australian nurse Bronnie Ware who spent several years in palliative care, tending to patients during the last few weeks of their lives. Witness to many dying epiphanies, Ware eventually compiled her observations into a book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.
Can you guess what the #1 regret was?
That’s right.
Living a life with dreams, unfulfilled.
How heartbreakingly sad. To be at the end of your life only to realize you are completely out of time.
Regret.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live a life of regret or missed opportunity. Looking back at the end of my days, thinking, “What if I’d only tried?”
Granted, this doesn’t mean I’ve never questioned myself because goodness gracious, what if I FAIL? What if I fall so hard, so fast that I don’t even have time to catch myself? What will people think of me?
My close friends, my family, my adoring husband will all attest that sometimes I need a no-holds barred, gorilla-sized push. But guess what? I DO it. I try. I give myself the chance to fail miserably, or to succeed beyond my wildest dreams.
Opening up a larger studio is scary. Like stupid scary. Double the size, double the overhead, double the stress. But imagine the possibility! Just like 2.5 years ago when we moved to Richmond Hill, I was at a cross-roads. It was a poop or get off the pot moment, and I had to make a decision. So I asked myself, what do I want? Do you want to quit, throw in the towel, recite your speech and walk off the stage, toss the mic aside?
The answer was clear.
No.
No, I didn’t want to do any of those things.
So the choice became simple, really.
What about you? Do you have a dream just itching to be fulfilled?
What’s holding you back?
Fear? Money? Support?
What are you waiting for?
I want to hear about what dream you’re holding on to.