Let’s talk about risk

Let’s talk about risk.

Now I am about as risk-averse as they come, but three years ago, instead of drafting a list of New Year’s resolutions, I decided to try something new. I adopted “risk” as my  “word of the year,” a guiding concept for stretching beyond my comfort zone.

I wrote the word in all caps on a sticky note and posted it on my computer, where I could see it every day and remind myself that sometimes, a little risk can be a good thing.

A couple of months later, the Guppy chapter of Sisters in Crime announced that submissions were open for its second anthology of short stories. Ah-ha! An opportunity to put risk to work for me.

That led to the creation of Nick, the hero of my story “Keeping Up Appearances.” Nick desperately wants the opposite of risk. He wants stability for himself and his daughter, Nettie. But then Nettie and Nick’s soon-to-be ex go missing and Nick’s life turns upside down. Poor Nick.

As the deadline for submissions crept closer, I fiddled with the story and revised and had many second thoughts. But that sticky note on my computer was a constant reminder. A nag, really. It was my year of risk, after all. So I hit send, and “Keeping Up Appearances” was one of 22 stories accepted for publication in Fish Nets: The Second Guppy Anthology. Woo-hoo for taking risks!

Since then, I’ve adopted a “word of the year” two more times. Instead of replacing the previous year’s word, I add to it. I have three sticky notes on my computer now:

• RISK: Take a chance, stretch, look for new experiences and new challenges
• SPONTANEITY: Be open to unexpected opportunities, surprise twists, and joyful distractions
• STRENGTH: Be steadfast in pursuit of dreams and desires

Not every risk pays off, just like sometimes spontaneity takes a back seat to practicality. But I like to think of each risk as a beginning, full of wondrous possibilities, and that inspires me to keep taking them.

*This post originally appeared on the Fish Nets author blog.