“I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stunned by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, “Hi.” They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.”
—Augusten Burroughs

Life is all about risk, right?

You could easily live your life in relative safety; there are no saber-toothed tigers, and if you are reading this, you are not in danger of starving or freezing to death.

Your comfortable bed is protected from the wind, rain, and snow, you can buy your clothing and food from an electronic device and have it delivered to your door, and literally endless entertainment is brought to you via cables and invisible frequencies such that you don’t ever have to think or feel again.

But is that living?

Today, take a risk. Introduce yourself to someone. Pay a stranger a compliment.

Ask a question you think might make you look stupid.

Tell a loved one a secret fear or a secret fantasy. Tell a stranger a secret fear or a secret fantasy. Share a really big dream. Embark on a journey or start a project that you’re not sure you can complete.

But don’t let the years pass being afraid to say “hi” or being afraid to stand alone on the ledge or being afraid to leave your career or your relationship or your home town because you really, truly want something better.

There’s a big, beautiful world out there, and none of the richest experiences of life can come to you via Instagram or Facebook or HBO or Netflix.

Scheme something big today, even if your inner critic tells you that it’s not “big” by other people’s standards.

Go do it. Just go!