Risk and Dare

I could not resist the risk so I dared myself to write this .
 This blog came about as a result  of a discussion of  risk and dare at my creative writing group Creative Endeavors. This group who meets in Sault Mich., way up in the north, are  very good writers. 
They are an energetic fun group of thinkers.When an idea is presented  they will fly with it. We have many artists, professional and non, painters, sculptors, craft makers, writers who write poems, stories , books, story tellers. singers,actors, teachers, all different ages.
 We  had a fun time with these two words. One of our members said we should to consider 'calculated risk' as another part of the idea.
Now think about that. Is there calculated dares ?
As my readers know I love dictionaries.I got mine out .I did not have to dust it off.
There was some discussion that young people are more likely to take a dare and older ones will take a risk . Is there a difference?


OK young people,
If someone challenges you and you accept it, that is a dare.
If you defy the stars, as Romeo did ,that is also a accepting a dare .
If you' double dog dare' someone to climb the ridge pole and they accept the dare ,they dare.
If you are willing to make a change which may be hazardous, that is a dare .
Do you describe yourself as a daring young man or woman, like the daring young man on the flying trapeze?
Are you adventuresome , a daredevil?
Are you fool hardy, making rash decisions?
Are you reckless, perhaps with your heart?
Are you  venturesome ,you need a new adventure, you need to see the world?
Do you take the bull by the horns?
Then  you  dare.

Now for the older set.
If you don't mind danger ,hazard, putting yourself in jeopardy or peril, you may be a risk taker .
Think police or fireman and rescue work.
If you take a chance, seek your fortune, rely on luck, you may be a risk taker .
If you love adventure and change you  maybe a risk taker. Note: the daring young also love adventure.
If you will will take a gamble or wager you may be a risk taker. We do see a lot of seniors at the casino.
If you find yourself diving into ticklish,touchy sensitive, chancy or perilous situations on purpose. You may be a risk taker.
If you will go out on thin ice .
You are a risk taker.

Calculated Risk means: you have thought this risk over, in a guarded, safe ,wary, cautious way. It is almost the opposite of risk .
This makes you not a risk taker or maybe not a dare taker. What do you think?

In conclusion I think we all  of us, young and old take some risk and some dares.
We dare ourselves to risk.We rise to the challenge. Life  is a risky business.

None of us benefits by literally taking a bull by the horns or walking out onto thin ice, but; sometimes we are called upon to do very brave things.
My artist  friends risk themselves every day by putting their work out there to be considered or critiqued. Risk Takers ,you are living the life many people wish they were brave enough to live.

Story Telling

Today I had the privilege of going to our local library to attend a meeting that I coordinate called Story Spinners. Our goal at Story Spinners is to keep the art of story telling alive. We as local artist come together to share our stories. Many of these are original and some are read from other artist works. We  have a variety of ages and abilities . It is the most charming group of people.
 After several meeting we intend to come together to hold an event to share the magic of the story telling with others. This time it will be in a local restaurant. We try to find places that are 'cozy' with a fire place, then we call it' Fire Side Stories.'
It is my joy to listen to these wonderful story tellers as they find their voices. I love encouraging them . I love watching them encourage one another. We have such a marvelous variety. Local history, family stories, ghost stories ,children's stories, imaginative stories and true life adventures.
 Come if you can sometime to join us. We have so much fun  as we laugh , listen and create.

New Age

I had a friend ask me if I had studied New Age.
As World  religion yes, and not in a good light.
I decided to look it up it in my Roget's.
It  means: new consciousness or new wave. 
I do study Tai Chi and and I do get massages.
I do open my mind a lot more these days.
A lot more then my old way of black and white thinking that was destroying me.
I am interested in Native American thoughts . I respect many, many kinds of people.
I hope I am growing and changing every day for the better.
I incorporate all that is good for me into the way I pray, live an worship.
I deep down believe that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. I believe that He loves me and I am following Him .  Christ is Lord of my life. When others see me I hope they see Him in me.
I use these new' waves' new thoughts, to worship Him in my own way.
I take care of me so I can serve others.
I strive to make healthy choices.
All that is good in this world comes for our Creator.
Am I New Age?  I really don't think so.
I think I am more open minded happier, healthier and relaxed.
Am I a Christian ? Yes. I know I am .

Disciplne VS Indulgence

I came across the statement
Discipline is not abusive.
Indulgence is abuse.
I replied since it was on face book," It depends on your definition of discipline" My dear friend disagreed  with me.
Thinking this was a pretty broad statement, I decided to publish my thoughts.
I looked up the words in the dictionary, yes , I take after my Dad.
My friend Sharon would say" Inquiring minds want to know. "
Discipline is first defined as : punish,chastise , correct , overcome , retain.
This is why I thought this statement" Discipline is not abusive. Indulgence is abuse." was not neccessarily true.
This definition even had' rod' as a word for discipline.
Second definition , more in line with my friend, said : thought ,teach, guide educate , instruct , school, train, lead, direct, manage.  I get this. It is how I wish all parents disciplined .
Now for indulgence.
Indulgence definition is: to give free rein, curiosity, desire, gratify, humor, favor, oblige, satisfy, delight , please, regale .
Second definition : cater, coddle, humor, pamper, merciful, tolerate , kind , gentle, mild.
Kind, Gentle, Mild , sounds like Jesus.
The opposite of indulgence: being stern, rigid, harsh.
Now I feel justified in my thoughts,' too broad a statement' "discipline is not abusive- indulgence is abusive"  One would have to know their audience rather well to make this statement. It could be taken in a very wrong way.
Wow! See how careful we must be with thoughts and words?
Mary

American Dream

I am reading through he Thesaurus Phrase Book and I came to American Dream.
Roget's tells me American Dream definition is Material Wealth
I think this is not correct. What do you think?
 We all want two chickens in every pot and two cars in every garage. We want  more for our kids then what we have or had. but... we want  much more.
We as Americans, even if the eagle is our emblem, believe it or not , we want peace today and in the future. We want harmony, happiness. Pursuit of happiness is in our Bill of Rights.
We want equality.LOOK AT OUR CONSTITUTION COME ON ROGET GIVE US MORE.  We hold these truth to be self evident that all men are created equal , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights ,that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We want freedom,we value freedom  enough to go to other nations to fight for their peoples freedoms ,their pursuit of happiness and equality. Enough to give our sons and daughters as a sacrifice for these ideals.
We want  good education and higher education that is affordable .
We want health options that are affordable.
We want a job that can support us and our families. We want a roof over our head , food on our tables and heat in our homes or air conditioning depending where we live.
We are a huge nation.
We want running water and electricity. We want to know how to use technology as it is developed .
We want to be better. We want be good ,caring citizens. We want to protect our environment.
 Roget's Thesaurus what is our dream really?
A dream of a better World for our children. Where they can live, love, learn and pursue happiness. Where they are free and equal and not afraid. Where they matter as much as any one else. Where they have enough of everything they need.
 What is your dream?
 Mine is to live here,  in our own United States as an American, safe, happy and healthy .
 I dream this for my children too.
 I feel safe in saying most of the Americans I know have this dream.