From time to time I think about what we’re doing here at Churchville-Chili Junior High School, no not just seeing our buddies, but learning how to live. Pablo Picasso said it well, “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”

Learning is so much about taking chances, risking looking dumb in front of your friends, family or strangers. Cynthia Heimel, in her "Lower Manhattan Survival Tactics," writes, “When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.”

“Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.” said Frederick B. Wilcox. Wayne Gretzky noted, “You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” An unknown author wrote, “Many great ideas have been lost because the people who had them could not stand being laughed at.”

Julia Sorel, Rosalyn Drexler’s character in See How She Runs, says, “If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances.”

It will be scary sometimes, taking chances, but once you get used to it, you’ll understand you were made to try new things.

John A Shedd got it right when he said, “A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for.”