If You’re Going to Jump Off a
Bridge, Make Sure You Know
How Deep the Water Is
Me, I’ve always been a risk-taker. Too much of a risk-taker,
some might say. In the long term, I haven’t regretted the things
I’ve done in life because they’ve made me who I am, and
anyway you never know where the alternative would have
gotten you. In the short term, however, I have often caught
myself thinking, “You idiot! Why didn’t you see that coming?”
The answer, of course, is because I didn’t check how deep the
water was before I jumped. There was the time I gave up a
very good, steady job to become a writer. Didn’t think about
how long it would take to make any money as a writer.* Didn’t
plan out whether my savings would last. Didn’t calculate what
the mortgage, bills, weekly shopping, car, pet food, and all the
rest would cost me with a new lifestyle. Well, eventually I
started to make a living from my writing, but there were some
pretty sticky years first, I can tell you.
I’ve always been terrified of ending up like those people I
know who never take risks and who never go anywhere,
change, grow, do anything, realize their dreams. I’ve seen it too
often, and I don’t want my name added to the list, thank you.
But over the years, I’ve noticed that the people who are really
happy are the ones who take risks, sure, but they look ahead
first. Not looking for excuses to stay on the shore, but looking
to see how deep the water is. As I’ve learned (shamefully
slowly) to copy their example, I’ve found it makes me happier,
too. I get what I want, and without paying as heavily for it as I
often used to.
- The answer, if you’re wondering, is several years.