31 Flavors of Fearless: One - The Biggest Leap

When I was seventeen, I helped my parents load my dad's pick-up truck with my childhood. I climbed into the back seat and looked out the window, tears blurring the image of my mom and sisters receding into the distance.

I left the soft, wet world of Washington and entered the hard, some would say cracked, world of California. It was August 1st and as we drove off the freeway and over the dry riverbed, I couldn't imagine a place more different than my home.

I cried when my dad, with a hug and a kiss, left me with my aunt and uncle - two people I'd only spent a handful of days with prior to moving in with them. I walked into my new bedroom with its unfamiliar bed and the gold framed print over it. I looked out the window of the typical suburban house to see the square patched grass, the unrelenting blue sky, and roses.

Today, I can't imagine the fearlessness that move required twenty years ago. It was done so thoughtlessly without any consideration of consequences. Yet, I thrived.

Sometimes I look at myself and wonder what happened to that girl who opened her mind and heart to new experiences. I wonder where she went. Life made me cautious, cracking the rose colored glasses with which I viewed the world.

Still, sometimes, when I least expect it, that girl comes out to play. I see her from the corner of my eye, fearless and curious. I welcome the racing heart, the tingling fingers. I see her jumping from a cliff and falling with glee and think, for a moment, ah...there she is.

A bit ago, my dear friend, partner in business and writing, and fellow romance novel junkie Cam started a little...movement...on her blog. She's writing thirty-one posts fearlessly exposing herself. A bit later, my dear friend, partner in business and writing, and fellow Gatsby junkie Angela decided to join in.

Which means now, a bit later than Angela, I've decided to do the same - thirty-one posts of fearlessness. Thirty-one posts peeling back the layers until I begin to understand, again, that girl who decided to leave all she knew for the adventure ahead.