Taking risks in our lives can be one of the most intimidating and frightening things we ever do. However, at some points in our lives, we must take risks in order to succeed and to be happy. Obviously sometimes we may fail, but if we do not take a chance, then we fail before we even begin.
Risk taking is the process of opening up oneself to change, accepting the need for change, and taking the behavioral steps necessary to accomplish this change. It involves an honest appraisal of the current situation and then a thorough understanding of the risks involved in taking the needed actions. One must weigh the pros and cons and then hopefully choose the best action to achieve the change. If the choice turns out to be an unsuccessful choice, then it is necessary to try something else. Trial and error is often a major part of taking risks in one’s life. Taking risks often involves courage, determination, and hard work. One may also receive criticism and lack of approval from those around him, but the risk taker must find a way to deal with this in an objective rather than a subjective manner. Taking advice from others can be helpful, but the ultimate decision on how to achieve one’s change or goal belongs to the risk taker. Thus, he must be willing and able to accept the final results.
Many obstacles or road blocks must be overcome in order for one to feel comfortable taking risks. He must get rid of the fear of rejection or failure, the need for approval, or the need to avoid guilt. He must believe in himself but not always feel that he has to be right all the time. If unhappy in his life, he must recognize that change could benefit him and provide him with the kind of life he wishes to live. However, this person must first determine what it is that will make him happy and then decide what change is needed. The risk he must take could be extremely time consuming with many hurdles or bumps along the way. He must be prepared emotionally, psychologically, and even physically for what lies ahead of him. 
Many years ago, I was extremely unhappy living in my home state. It did not provide me the lifestyle and motivation I desperately needed. I felt trapped in a cage where nothing exciting or interesting ever happened to me, except for the few weeks I was fortunate enough to be able to travel abroad and see how other people lived. My change involved finding a new teaching position and moving over 500 miles away to Metro-Atlanta, Georgia. At the time, my friends and family members felt this was a rash and unwise decision I was making. It involved moving alone to a strange city without my husband at first since he had not received a transfer from his company yet and living in a huge city where I knew no one and had no friends. I had spent my entire life living in small towns in West Virginia. Thus, this was a tremendous life change for me, but I was ready and determined to make this change. It was definitely not easy at first. However, my favorite word is BELIEVE. I have always believed that if I work hard enough, I can accomplish anything, so this risk was not going to defeat me. The first year of teaching in an inner city school in comparison to the small rural school in which I had taught for fourteen years turned out to be quite challenging and not always pleasant, but I successfully completed the school year and remained there for the next six years before transferring to another school. My husband moved to Georgia five months after I did, we bought our home here, and settled down to our current comfortable and exciting life of living in this wonderful and beautiful part of Georgia. We have been here almost 24 years now, and I have no regrets about taking this big risk in my life, except that maybe I should have done it when I first graduated from Marshall University and not waited so many years. 
Over the years I have taken more and more risks. Some have had successful results while others did not work out quite as I had hoped. Looking back, I do not regret any of the choices I have made though. Even the bad choices and the failures have taught me important life lessons so I cherish these experiences as well.
Therefore, I challenge each and every one of you to become a RISK TAKER. What do you have to lose? “The sky is the limit so reach for the stars!” There is a very strong possibility that you can reach your star. We Americans have a popular saying: “Why not go for it! You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!”
Randi D. Ward
July 12, 2013
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