By Samantha McKenzie

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” Mark Twain

Inspiring people to chase after their dreams and follow their passions comes at a steep price. The stakes are high and the sacrifices are almost insurmountable. The acceptance rate is low and the negative comments usually come from the people we care about the most. It’s a tough pill to swallow when someone asks you to let go of what’s comfortable and what we’ve come accustomed to.

Do it anyway. Encourage people to do the impossible.

When we’re full of passion and focused on our goals, we need to be reminded to take a risk on ourselves. Stop talking yourself out of your dreams and instead, invite others to supplement their safe, cushy, comfortable lives, for the slim odds of gambling on their God-given abilities.

Because this is when life begins.

We have every right to break traditions that no longer serve us. This is how evolution takes place. It starts with relinquishing roles that make us unhappy and abandoning our fears for the sake of a powerful future.

The heart is tough. It was meant to take risks. The streets of our existence are graciously paved with both successes and failures, joys and sadness, and all sorts of juxtapositions. Don’t believe me? Ask anyone who’s done it.

There are thousands of examples of those who went against the grain, tolerated the “you’re crazy” comments and plowed away at what they believed in. They didn’t expect things to be easy. That would be the expectations of the ordinary. They knew from the moment they stuck their neck out there, that they were rolling the dice on uncertainty.

They overcame their inhibitions and toiled away.

So here’s to all the full steam ahead, nose-diving, slaying ’em individuals who dare to dream and travel on with their big ole risky dreams. You are the extraordinary. Let’s start living.