This winter I was trying to convince my kids to sign up for the local softball league this spring. No way; weren’t interested. This morning as my son and I were playing catch I pointed out that he had a great arm. Actually he’s a natural athlete at most sports; yet time and again I find he is reluctant to try new things. When I asked why he had rejected baseball this spring, he uttered a reply I have heard often lately, “I was afraid I wouldn’t be good,” he explained.

This thought connected with a book I finished yesterday called “How Starbuck’s saved my life.” Great little book. Not only did it give me a fresh respect for Starbucks as a company but the author’s inspiring true story reminded me of this recurring life theme: we have to take personal risks to grow, and some times the very best thing that can happen to any of us is outright failure.

Recently it seems reverberations on this topic have come to me through many different people...   more »