Taking chances

I'm not much of a risk taker these days...I guess I play it pretty safe.

I don't jump out of planes, make rash decisions, I'm not that spontaneous & I don't stray too far from home.

When I was younger I guess I was lucky in many ways, considering the crazy life I led at times. I took chances, made mistakes, got into a bit of trouble and had some pretty sad times.  I did also had some bad luck, and was sometimes in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't dwell on those days now, I had so many happy times too. As I've got older I have grown more cautious, more reluctant to break out or to do things differently. Life has been busy and I guess I don't have that much time to think about myself or question why I am the way I am.

Lucy came home from her Creative Dance class the other day and told me how her teacher had encouraged the class to take risks in their dancing, to be brave. To challenge themselves, to stretch a bit further, try new moves, to have faith in their bodies, in themselves. What great advice for young dancers, what great advice for us all.

Recently I made a choice which to most people would be a no brainer. An exciting option that wouldn't need much thought. But for me it's been a scary decision, although I'm thrilled to bits as well!

I like my home. I like things being safe and predictable. I'm not crazy about change and I have a bit (ok a lot) of an anxiety about travelling. I really hate to fly.  It just seems so wrong to be up there in the sky in a flying bus, hurtling through the air.

 And then there's the what ifs. What if something happens, to the kids, to Mark, to someone we love? Sometimes these kind of fears can be paralysing.

This anxious feeling has been holding me back from living, in a way. And so much of me is not that kind of person. I love to see different things, to experience other cultures, other places. So...I'm facing my fears, well some of them.  

Yep, this June our WHOLE family is flying to America!!  We're going to spend time with our American family, Mark's sister, husband and kids, wow!!

The kids will get to see where Mark grew up, double wow. They'll be able to see what a beautiful country America is, the Mississippi River, the magical countryside, the amazing city of Minneapolis, the kind and generous people, the sidewalks, the diners, their cousins, summer in Wisconsin..and..

 so will I!

It's been over ten years since we were there as a family. Mark, me, Char and Lucy. Lucy learned to walk in San Francisco. And now we're going back, our gang of seven.  Can you imagine how much fun we will have? Oh boy. And don't even start me of the photo's I'll get to take. Oh yeah..did someone mention Thrift Stores??

So yep, I"m feeling pretty happy this week. Not just because we are so lucky to be able to go on this trip but because I bit the bullet when I almost missed out. It would have been easy to say no, again, but this time I said YES! I'm still nervous about the flight, I'm still a bit anxious but I"m not letting it stop me. Dammit. I'm taking a leap Mel! And yes something might happen, but it could anyway. So look out USA, here we come!!

Have you got any exciting plans? Have you ever let your worries hold you back? Have a happy week lovely ones, 

see you soon xo

ps: you should most definitely pop over to Manda's blog and check out her gorgeous new colouring book and giveaway...go on..it's so fab xo