Only A Person Who Risks Is Really Free

After working with a financial company for two years I realized that I needed to take my career in a different direction. This was a hard move for me in some respects because I had never really quit a real job before. Sure I had quit waitressing jobs and retail jobs; temporary jobs that I worked during high school or during summers in college. But this was my first professional position out of college. It also didn’t help that I loved pretty much everyone I was working with; they are the kindest people. Working with them taught me so much about generosity, work ethic, and attention to detail. In the end though I knew I had to listen to my heart and pursue a different career. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done.
I made the leap and started applying for jobs (just getting to this point was a big step for me!). And with my good luck I landed a position in Human Resources with a local non-profit that I care deeply about. Of course, I couldn't say that this was simply luck. Instead I have to believe that this new position was nothing short of God's will for me. I was literally at my wits ends and knew I needed to find a different career path. I prayed so much about what was going on and said to God so many times, "I put myself in your hands. Please show me what it is you want me to do." And I find that it's during those times when we feel so completely lost and hopeless that we reforge another bond of faith with God. I completely put myself in God's hands and he showed me the way; I asked him to show me His will for my life and he guided me.
Now not all the answers are so clear cut and I don't expect that but I feel like God's answer to my prayers was loud and clear this time. And taking the risk was worth it. I feel so good knowing that not only am I in a field I am interested in but I am working for a cause that is so important in the lives of so many children and teenagers. My heart feels full when I see their smiling faces and know that everything that I am doing, even the little things, is for them. As I said in my interview, "I want to be a part of something that's bigger than me."
The risk was worth it.


"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental,

To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,

To hope is to risk despair,

To try is to risk failure.

But risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing,
If I risk nothing, I do nothing, have nothing, and am nothing.
I may avoid suffering and sorrow, but I simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live.

Chained by my certitudes, I am a slave.

I have forfeited freedom.

Only a person who risks is really free."


~Christi