The Biggest Risk I’d Like to Take? None.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?

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“It’s not the risk I fear—it’s the recklessness.”

Today’s blog prompt asks: What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take—but haven’t been able to?

For me, the answer is simple: I’m not a risk taker. Nor do I want to become one. Life has taught me the value of steadiness, of trust, and of preparation. What others call “risk” often looks very different through my eyes.

When I spend $500 on a piece of old pottery, some people shake their heads as if I’m gambling. But I know better. I’ve spent decades studying antiques, researching markets, and developing a sharp eye for authenticity and value. That’s not risk—it’s knowledge and experience. The same is true in real estate. Buying a house “as is” may scare some, but I’ve flipped properties, managed rentals, and seen how the numbers play out. For me, it’s not rolling dice—it’s making informed choices.

But beyond business or investments, there are areas of life where I simply don’t—and won’t—take risks. I don’t gamble with my health. At my age, I work daily to stay active, keep my weight down, train with light weights, walk, and eat clean. I practice intermittent fasting and take the supplements I believe make a difference. That’s not fear—it’s respect for this one body I’ve been given.

And I don’t take risks with the people I put my trust in. My family is the anchor of my life—Marmee, my three daughters, and my seven grandchildren. I’ve always believed that trust is something you don’t gamble with. It’s earned, it’s protected, and once broken, it’s hard to repair. The same principle guided me through my career in retail and in business: you can recover from a bad investment, but trust lost is trust gone.

Even in the toughest seasons of life, like when I struggled through months of severe insomnia years ago, I learned the hard way that “taking chances” with your mind, your health, or your spirit isn’t worth it. Careful choices, discipline, and faith carried me through—not reckless risks.

So when I’m asked about the biggest risk I’d like to take, my answer is none. Not because I’m timid or afraid of life, but because I’ve built a life on choices—not chances. To me, risk is often another word for not being prepared, not paying attention, or not valuing what truly matters.

I’d rather spend my days making wise decisions, leaving a strong legacy, and being there for the people I love, than chasing risks that might knock it all down.