“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

~ Wayne Gretzky 

Today’s inspirational quote echoes, to the tee, what I say to my family all the time.  If you don’t take a chance on your dreams, you’ve already failed.  Not trying is a guaranteed failure.  The outcome can only be one thing- failure.

The problem with not trying is that you’ve just sold yourself short (cliché I know, but it’s true).  You’ve settled for less than what you are or  what you could be.  You’ve accepted life without change.  Without something better.  Without the joy of achievement.

I remember April of 2016.  I had just finished my MBA, and rolled into the next program of my choice, Masters in English.  Holy crap was I afraid.  Scared I wouldn’t do a good job – that I wasn’t smart enough – that I would fail miserably and be laughed out of the program by my professors and fellow classmates.

Guess what?

I did it anyway.

I not only achieved my degree, but I did it in stellar fashion with a 4.0 GPA.  Not bad for a person who was so full of self-doubt that often, my stomach would lurch at the thought of it.  It was worth taking a risk on myself.  I mean, now I’m blogging at least 5 days a week.  I’ve continued writing short stories, which in my opinion, are much better than my earlier writing.  I am even working to complete a novel that I plan to pursue publication for.

If I hadn’t taken a shot at it, I would still be sitting at my desk, wishing I had more knowledge of diction and syntax, spinning my wheels and creating the same level of subpar writing.  I would have failed myself and missed any opportunity to truly follow my dream.

So, if you want something, swing at full strength and take that shot.  Don’t wait.  Don’t let fear paralyze you.  Otherwise, the only thing left for you is guaranteed failure.