Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

            It’s a sad thing how scared some people can be…when there’s truly not much of a reason to be afraid at all. We’re all so wrapped up in what others will perceive of us, we forget how much we could win, and only think of all of the things we could lose. I'm guilty of being one to often get in over my head when it comes to taking risks, and trying to do way more than I would usually be able to handle. I’ll also admit that a lot of the time it doesn't work in my favour…

But that doesn't mean I stop trying.

As the classic phrase says, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Even though many times I've thoroughly embarrassed myself, I've just kept my head high and remembered—or should I say hoped—that mostly everyone will have forgotten about it by lunch. Based on the amount of overly-dramatic gossip flowing in any high school, they all usually have.

So, where am I going with this? I simply must stop rambling. It’s become a terrible habit of mine. Anyhow, to kick off my blog I have a story to share with you all. This story is a glimmer of hope, proving how going over my head can—and has many times!—work out amazingly.

Thus, we begin our story all the way back when I was ten…on a vacation. I was laying down, chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool (If you got that reference, which you better have, I love you.) when a member of the staff comes up to me and asks me if I’d like to join the talent show. On a whim, thinking it was no big deal at all, I say yes, and say I will sing a song. (See you again by Miley Cyrus. Remember, people, I was ten.) Overjoyed, seeming as I had been one of the nary few that agreed to join, he signs me up and tells me to come down to practise in a few hours from then.

When I get to the practise, this staff member had set up a live band to play the song, and they were learning it as I stood! This blew everyone away—a live band at some humble little talent show at a resort!

When it came my time to take the stage that night, I had my doubts. I was a split second away from changing my mind completely; shaking my head, turning my nose and saying I couldn't do it, I just couldn't go up and sing.  I almost backed out, but I didn't  So when I took the stage, shaking and nervous, and held the microphone, I was rigid as a board. The opening tune trilled, and I began to sing. Over time, I saw smiles in the audience—over hundreds of smiles, in fact! The show had a huge turnout, and aside from one other girl, I was the only guest performing! Through the song, my nerves calmed and I started having fun, moving around and belting my heart out. After I had finished people cheered, and I stepped back to my seat, grin not fading from my face the rest of the night.

The next day, I had dozens of people come up to me and talk about my performance—I felt like I was famous in my glorious 15 minutes of fame. I didn't regret a thing, and still don’t to this day.

I could recall some times where my risk taking ended up a misadventure, but there’s so many, this entry would be thousands of words long. My my, there’s air bands  an unfortunate French commercial, a recital…and more. I suppose I’ll leave those for another day though.

The thing I think hasn't stopped me from trying and made the occasional embarrassment worth it is how I felt when I did succeed. I was on top of the world—if I hadn't even tried, how was I to ever know that feeling? I myself would rather try something and fail horribly than never try at all and wonder what would've happened if I did.

So, my words of wisdom for today…Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If it ends brilliantly, the world is your oyster, and if not, just look at it this way; I’d bet nobody will even remember it by lunch.