Do I Dare?
This week’s Six Word Friday uses the word “question” –
The question is – do I dare?
I seem to ask this of myself over and over again – do I dare do this? Do I dare do that? Do I dare invest time, money, energy, attention to whatever it is I’m contemplating. The learning curve sucks, but if I persist, I may find I like whatever it is or that it’s worthwhile having figured it out (here’s my post from last year about trying different things).
Earlier this year it was upgrading my photo processing, using Lightroom and Photoshop CS6 instead of Photoshop Elements. Did I ever struggle with figuring them out! My knowledge of Elements helped, but in the end, I had to totally change my workflow in working on my photographs and blogs. Now I’ve automated my final processing steps so that my pictures have a copyright in the metadata, a watermark and are a lower resolution picture for posting on the Internet.
Even small decisions bring this out. Should we join a discount warehouse store? Get a new camera bag? Take the dogs to PetSmart for a bath instead of doing it myself? Of course, I might have skipped the bath had I known the beagle would tattle on me.
The answers to all of those were yes. So far we’re pleased with our membership at BJ’s Wholesale Club and the savings we’re having on groceries and household items. My favorite boy toy ordered himself a new camera bag and it was a little small for him, but he thought I’d like it. I do and kept it instead of returning it. And yes, the dogs got taken to PetSmart for baths.
Taking a risk is why I changed jobs, moved around the country, and really – even having a baby all those years ago. After all, I was the one who said I’d never have children. I am so glad I changed my mind on that one.
I’ve also become far less attached to the idea of do-overs. My husband has (more than once, unfortunately) reminded me to stop lusting after pots of meat, a reference to the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. When God gave them manna to eat, they wanted their meat too, having no gratitude for what God provided.
I’ve done that, looking back instead of appreciating what I have. Playing solitaire on my iPad really drove that lesson home. There’s an undo function and I can undo all the way back to the beginning if I want. A few times there was a decision point when two different options were available for play but only one could be chosen. I’d make a choice and lose a few turns later. So I started undoing my moves, going back to that decision point and choosing the other card. You know what? Without exception, I still lost. Redoing the moves didn’t change the ultimate outcome.
I’ve been applying that to my life. I took risks and not all of them worked out. I made the best decisions I could with what I knew at that moment. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that there is never enough knowledge to know beforehand everything to make a perfect decision.
There are no do-overs but even if there were, would the outcome be different? Not necessarily. But to not take risks is to lead a much smaller life than needed. And to my mind, that’s not very satisfying.
Did you spot another risk as you’ve been reading this? I took all kinds of rose pictures early in September. I posted some here. So the question for me was – did I dare risk sharing lots more rose pictures?
Why thank you for asking! Yes, I will share my rose pictures.
Life Lessons Nature roses Taking Risks do overs making decisions manna pots of meat roses taking risks

dogear6 View All →
I am a backyard adventurer, philosopher and observer, recording my life in journals and photographs. Visit my blog at www.livingtheseasons.com.
Lovely!
Thank you!
Your roses are pretty, a delight on this rainy, blustery night.
I’m glad you enjoyed them. When my husband saw all the photos I took, he commented that there way too many to post. I assured him that would not be a problem!
Hi Nancy – It took me a while to get around to reading this one, but I really enjoyed it. I completely agree with your sentiments. A life without risks is, in my opinion, a life not worth living. That is the only way we learn and grow. Really liked this one!
Thank you so much Traci – I always enjoy your comments and feedback.
(OK trying to comment again – weirdness going on)
Love that 3rd rose!
And this is so true: “not take risks is to lead a much smaller life than needed”
(and I must learn to watermark pix.)
Thanks Karen! I’m glad you liked the rose and my comments. The watermarks aren’t hard if you want something plain. Mine’s a little more than that and I use created a PNG file for it, which I copy in as a duplicate layer on my photos (can be done in Elements or Photoshop).
If you’re using an on-line service to do some photo processing, it may have a way to automate it also. Watermarks aren’t foolproof, but they make it harder for someone to rip you off.
Thanks so much for the pictures, which are lovely, and the words, which are obviously heartfelt. 8-)
Thanks for both compliments!
You are most welcome. 8-)
Lovely photos…and so true about decisions….all the time. I’m not a “darer” – I tend to think, is this wise? Should I? I’d like to add the notion of “dare” to my decision making!
I think as we get older, we get more comfortable with realizing that we cannot control the outcome to everything we do. It makes it easier to risk when we know that even without risking we can still fail in the outcome.
I’ve done the Solitaire thing too. And you’re right – it doesn’t matter how many times you undo the moves, the outcome is always the same!! There’s a lesson in there somewhere!!! Thank you.
Wasn’t it disappointing too to find out that the outcome didn’t change? Really made me rethink some of my regrets in life.
Thanks for leaving a comment – I see you “liking” my posts and am happy you visit so frequently. How nice to get a note!
I’m glad you dared to write this post!
You made me laugh as usual! Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful roses
Thank you!
I’m glad you shared them…they’re beautiful. I’m risk-averse but finding as I get older that the more risks I take, the more rewarding the outcome.
Thanks Sara! I’d agree that as I get older, I’m more willing to take a risk because the payoffs are often so rewarding.