I am not a risky person. I like to think things through very thoroughly, decide which option in a choice is better or if an idea is good and then act on that. I know I’m cautious (I’m probably overly cautious, actually), and while that’s great, sometimes I need to take a small step out of my comfort zone, so I don’t feel like life is passing me by. For those of you who are like me and prefer to live life on the safe side, here are some little risks you can take to take a ride on the wild side.
1. Dye your hair (or at least part of it)
Last summer, I decided I wanted to try something new and dye my hair. I have to point out that my current hair color isn’t a huge difference from my natural brunette—it’s a dark red now. I also started out by doing an ombre look in my hair first to see if I liked the color on myself (let’s remember that these are small risks, people). I fell in love with the burgundy color and decided to dye my whole head for fun, and I still dye it the same color over a year later.
2. Talk to a stranger
If you’re sitting on the bus while on your way to class and you’re bored, instead of turning to your phone, try talking to someone else sitting near you. You never know, you may end up having a great conversation about life. Or you could end up with somebody confused as to why you’re talking to them—at least you don’t know them. It’s kind of a toss-up, but that’s why this is a small risk.
3. Buy a lottery ticket
It doesn’t cost you a ton of money, and you have a chance (albeit a small chance) of making a profit on how much you spent on the ticket. It’s fun, and it’s kind of exhilirating to wait and see what you’re going to earn.
4. Speak your mind
It’s important to speak your mind, even if it’s an unpopular opinion. Your thoughts and ideas matter just as much as everyone else’s. Try to say something without overthinking and deciding that it’s a bad idea. Go for it, and fit into the conversation because your thoughts and opinions deserve to be heard.
5. Try a new food
Trying new foods can be terrifying for everybody, but it’s still fun to do. Never tried sushi before? (Same!) Go out to a popular sushi restaurant and try something off the menu. Or, even better, have somebody pick something for you. If you can’t do anything crazy like sushi, just trying a new kind of food you find while grocery shopping can be a big enough risk for you!
Small risks are something we can all do every day, and there aren’t really any repercussions that come from them. For those of us who don’t love danger or doing anything that strays from our routine, taking these small risks can help us break out of our shells, even for just a moment.