Put Yourself Out There

Once upon a time, I had a friend who was in the service. We never saw each other, but we would chat a little from time to time. Mostly share stories, secrets, and fears. We would listen to each other complain and try to give helpful advice. It was during one of these chats that I came to realize I am full of good advice. The problem is that I can tell others all these good ideas, but I never actually do any of them them myself.

See, he was saying that he wished he could have more friends, and simply be happier. Only, everyone that he knows is shipped out within a few months of friendship, so he chooses to be alone rather than have to say goodbye. It was at this time that I said, "Put yourself out there. You might get hurt, but you'll be a lot happier for having tried."

The second that I hit send, I realized this advice can apply to just about anything. Mostly, this advice can apply to me. I hold myself back a lot. I worry that I might fail or that the journey might get tough. I say no, rather than giving it a go and ending up flat on my face. This is the exact opposite of what I should do. I know that I have written about this very thing before. However, right now, I am worried about growing up. I am worried about finding a job and starting a new life. I am worried about taking a chance.

I hope that by admitting my fears of the future, I will be able to face them head-on. I'm excited for all of these new adventures, and nervous, too. I am certain that everything will work out, but I know that I need to put myself out there. Even if I end up getting hurt along the way, I will learn a lot by simply having tried.