Tag: risk taking

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Risk taking quotes

I have always struggled with an aversion to taking risks. I talked to my boss about a pay raise for the first time in my 50 year life this year. I mistakenly focused on my financial desires rather than how my work benefits my employer. But, I am proud that I even had the guts to broach the subject. So, these quotes are mostly for me. Yet, I know that what I struggle with is similar to the struggle of others.

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” Muhammad Ali

Ali (1942-2016) is an American boxer who took a stand against the Vietnam War. I suspect I will regret not having tried to live my dreams when I die if I don’t take risks once and a while.

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out just how far one can go.” TS Eliot (1888-1965)

This quote reminds me of a conversation when I was in university. He pointed out that I could try out acting more confident without actually going to the point of yelling it from a roof top. For those of us who get scared anytime that we request something from an authority figure, it is unlikely for us to go too far.

“Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.” Roy Bennett

Roy T Bennett is an American author and speaker. All of us can fall into the trap of trying to please others such as our parents, spouses or role models. Then, we can lose what we want to do with our lives and time. I think a balance between a person’s dreams and his/her responsibilities is hard to find.

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” Michelangelo

“My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you’re going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges and instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them.”     Ruth Westheimer

Sometimes the news makes me want to stay in bed all day. No reading about another mass shooting. No listening to politicians arguing or lying. Just peaceful solitude. But, I have to come out of my tiny apartment and go to work.

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky

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101 World Changing Women quotes

I enjoy reading compilations of biographies. This is a children’s book but I bought it and read it anyways.

One person that was discussed was Anne Frank. While hiding from the Nazis from 1942 to 1944, she wrote a diary.

“I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart.” She saw so much evil yet she still wrote this. I fight to hold on to this faith in the goodness of people. Yet, the news of mass shootings and people shooting others for very ridiculous reasons makes me wonder.

“If you want to make something happen that hasn’t happened before you’ve got to allow yourself to make a lot of mistakes.” Björk is a musician. 8 had never heard of her but that is why I like these books. They tell me about people that I have never heard of.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all-in which case you fail by default.” J.K. Rowling took the risk of writing her book while broke.

“There may be tough times, but the difficulties which you face will make you more determined to achieve your objectives and to win against all the odds.” Marta is a soccer player. The short write up on her life describes her father leaving her family when she was one year old. So, her mom had to work outside of the home. She started playing soccer in the street. Despite living in a poor area and financial struggles of her family, she competed in the Women’s World Cup.

Terezinha Guilhermina “sprints blindfolded, alongside a sighted guide runner.” She is blind and competes in the Paralympics. This reminded of the faith walk that I tried to do at 4h camp. I peaked down below the blindfold but it still was scary to walk the course while being guided by another participant. I can’t imagine the level of trust that this must have taken for her to sprint while being guided by a sighted person.

“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.” Simone Biles is a gymnast who spent sometime in foster care and raised by her grandparents.