I remember all of those dreams I had. Go back to school, learn to paint, buy an airplane, work for a charity for free, travel to Tikal… I feel like the dreams that I had will never happen at this rate. I’m stuck, and my bed is that you are, too. Are you really achieving the big picture goal yourself?

We remind each other to take risks every day on Aridni, and I’m trying to be a daredevil. The truth is that my husband and I realize we aren’t trying hard enough. We’ve asked ourselves: How do we establish a million bucks? Are we willing to make the sacrifices?

I think we’ve found an answer, or at least a start. It’s time to take the plunge.

In six months, we are throwing away job security, health insurance, and an outstanding rental contract of six months. We’re going to pack ourselves up and revert back to those days of Ramen noodles if we have to. We’ll buy a rundown, cheap house in desperate need of TLC that we’ll fully provide. I’ll find a job in a town where jobs are scarce (at least I hope I will!), and devote my weekends to our project. My husband will be engaging in our project full time.

It’s scary to think about. Throw away everything? Yeah. But we’re taking the risk when we have nothing to lose. I’d rather look back and know we failed than be still sitting around, waiting and wishing in a lifestyle where we’ll never get ahead for sure. I can’t live this way!

This weekend, I challenge you’not to risk everything, rather to risk.

1. Ask yourself how you can establish a million bucks.
2. Think: are you willing to make the sacrifices?
3. Start thinking of the possibilities as we celebrate freedom this 4th of July weekend’the freedom to chose, the freedom to gamble
4. Don’t spend a potential fortune on fireworks (Todd!)