Risky Business

I was slightly afraid that my post about risk would be quite embarrassing, because I figured I'd be about the only one who isn't quite as risky as they could be. Then I looked through the posts that were already up, and basically I don't feel quite as embarrassed now.

That being said, as far as risks go, I don't take a lot. The biggest risk I've taken in the past few months is probably going on stage for Brigadoon performances. If someone would've told me 5 years ago that I would've been performing in fall musical at the high school, my face probably would've turned a shade of pink and I would've told you about how I could never do that. I would be too scared. My idea of risk in 6th grade was wearing my hair down (which I did maybe twice that year). So at least I've gained some amount of confidence in 5 or so years. I actually performed with the cast of Hello Dolly onstage at the Orpheum last year, in from of who knows how many people I didn't know. Basically that's what I consider a risk. I've never bungee-jumped or sky-dived (dove?) or anything cray like that. So that's my lack of experience with risk.

But Mrs. Cardona didn't ask about our risks in her blog she asked about more than that. So now I shall answer that.

I think it's good to risk something when the consequences if you don't "succeed" are something you can live with. If you are risking your life or multiple years in jail, I certainly would not take that risk. When you risk something, you can have a lot of different things at risk. It all depends on the situation. When I'm onstage, I risk forgetting my choreography, which could obviously lead to me looking like an idiot, but if someone saw me doing different choreography, it could also lead to them starting a cue at the wrong time, or if a spotlight judge was in the audience (depending on how badly I messed up, and how many people messed up because of me) it could be detrimental to our performance score (it probably wouldn't lead to the loss of an award or anything, but it wouldn't be helpful, that's for sure). Sometimes, though, risk feels great. Every performance, when I saw the fog start rolling onto the stage, and everyone began the first chorus of "Brigadoon", sure I got scared, but every single night, I couldn't help but let a smile creep across my face.

So yea, risk is scary, but if it's the right about of risk, it can be fun and enthralling, and absolutely worth it.