“You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” Annie Dillard.

Before we stuff our faces on Thanksgiving my family and extended family gathers in a circle and tells a few things we’re thankful for from the previous year.

Among other things, I mentioned my youngest son’s choice this fall to go to a Jr. High where he wouldn’t know any kids. Long story why, but he wasn’t excited about leaving his tight group of sixth grade buds. Huge risk.

The happy ending is he’s thriving at his new school. The group he was part of has fallen apart and a number of his friends from last year have, uh, made some poor choices.

Risk is full of fear but it’s the only way to fly. (Yep, that’s my kid in the pic at right.)

Where have you flown this year that you’re most proud of?

Where will you fly in the year to come?

Tags: building wings on the way down, freedom, He Blogs She Blogs, Risk

“You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” Annie Dillard

I didn’t want to hurtle toward the ground face first from 191 feet up, strapped into a roller coaster called Aftershock. The problem was, I did.

As I stood staring up at the two towers of the coaster last week, straddling the fine line between desire and fear, it was my 12-year old son who pushed me over the edge. “C’mon, Dad! Are you a man or a mouse?!” Until his challenge, I was definitely the gray, furry little creature.

Yes, of course I went on it. Twice. What a ride! See, my knees whack together when it comes to heights, so anything of an Aftershock nature really gets my adrenaline pumping. (I’m a bit of a thrill seeker and love the rush.)

My point? I probably wouldn’t have taken the ride without my son pushing me. (And I’m pumped he did.)The application? You have to find people who will push you. There’s encouragement and there’s pushing. We all need friends who encourage, but we also need friends who will get in our face and challenge us.

Whether it’s starting a blog, marketing a product, changing something in your business, trying for a new relationship, or getting on a silly theme park ride, we need those who love us deeply enough to push us toward our full potential.

Now go find someone who will take you to the edge.

Tags: going to the edge, Risk, who will challenge you?