"To risk is to loosen your grip on the known and the certain and to reach for something you are not entirely sure of but you believe is better than what you now have, or is at least necessary to survive." (From the book Risking by David Viscott, M.D.) These words helped to loosen my own grip on the fears of the unknown and the doubts about how I would live and if I could survive leaving the home that I knew for the dream of a mountain life. I didn’t know what I would find, but I knew that whatever awaited me was better than what I was giving up because each step was taking me closer to the fulfillment of a dream.

I also did not know how I would fare if I built a web site and went into business for myself as an editor and freelance writer. At times I doubted my talent, my impact upon others, and-quite often,lol-my sanity. Each step that I have taken (sometimes with a cringe and eyes tightly shut), however, has made me stronger, taught me more, and given me the confidence and determination to do more.

Whatever dream that you hold as a writer, do something with it! Every risk that you take is a win/win situation. Each writing hurdle that you overcome, or sometimes just endure, makes you a better writer and a stronger person. One hundred mistakes are one hundred proven ways of how not to do something.

Take a risk today, even a small one. If you never ask, the answer will always be no. Start asking more of life…and of yourself. You’ll be surprised at how many ‘yes’s’ that you’ll begin receiving.