Daily writing prompt

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

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Hello dear friends,

I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful mood, sipping your favorite tea and feeling the joy of a new day unfold.

Today’s writing prompt struck a special chord in my heart: “Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.” What a powerful thought!

Life is about making choices, some of which feel risky. Yet, taking that leap can create the most beautiful parts of your story.

For me, the biggest and boldest risk I ever took was leaving behind my routine, numbers-driven banking career after retirement and diving headfirst into the unknown world of creativity—writing, painting, and storytelling.

Yes, it was a world I had never dared to explore in my earlier years. I was a banker by profession, a poet by accident, and an artist by destiny.

The Safe Shore

During my career in banking, life moved in predictable patterns. Targets, balance sheets, and loan portfolios were the language I spoke fluently.

Creativity? That seemed like a luxury for others. I was content but not fulfilled. Like a bird who had forgotten the joy of flying, I stayed in my comfort zone, wings tucked neatly against the side.

But retirement brought a strange silence. For someone who had been so used to structure, the open-ended days felt like a void.

One morning, as I sat watching the rain trace paths down my window, a memory stirred—the time I had once written a poem in school.

That innocent spark suddenly caught fire. I began writing again, just for myself. But the more I wrote, the more alive I felt.

Taking the Plunge

It wasn’t easy. Starting a blog, sharing my inner world, and showing my paintings—each of these steps felt like standing at the edge of a cliff.
What if no one read my words? What if people laughed at my art? What if I failed?

But I took the risk.

I named my blog “Retired Kalam”, combining the echoes of my past with the heartbeat of my present.

I began posting poems, short stories, life reflections, and paintings. My first post got three views—two from friends and one from myself.

But something magical happened. I felt joy. Real joy. The kind that doesn’t depend on numbers, but on authenticity.

The Blossoming

Slowly, readers came. Comments trickled in. One person wrote, “Your story touched my heart.” Another said, “Your poem reminded me of my childhood.” And just like that, the fear melted. My risk had turned into a reward.

What began as a personal journey became a shared path. I discovered that age is no barrier to creativity. I met fellow bloggers, young and old, who inspired me.

I even published my first book—a compilation of poems and reflections that carry my soul in every line.

Now, I wake up each day with purpose. I write, paint, dance with words, and laugh with memories. My heart is lighter, and my mind is younger. All because I took that one risk.

Lessons from the Leap

Taking risks isn’t about recklessness. It’s about trusting your inner voice when the world goes silent. It’s about knowing that even if you fail, you fail forward.

Here’s what I’ve learned from taking this creative leap:

• Passion is ageless. Whether you’re 16 or 65, the fire within can be reignited.
  
• Comfort zones are cages in disguise. Step out, and you might discover your wings.
  
• Fear is temporary, but regret is permanent. I would have regretted not trying more than failing.
  
• Your story matters. Someone, somewhere, needs to hear what you have to say.

“Listen to your heart.”

So dear reader, if there’s a dream whispering in your heart, listen to it. Take that small step. Write that poem. Paint that sky. Dance in your living room. Start that blog. Whatever it is, don’t let fear hold your pen.

The risk I took—to share my art and words with the world—is one I will never regret. In fact, it saved me from a life of silent sunsets and turned my twilight years into a canvas of colors.

And who knows? Maybe the best stories are written not with certainty, but with courage.

Stay inspired, stay young at heart.
Warm regards,
Vijay Verma
www.retiredkalam.com

Categories: infotainment

Tags: #Life, #Poems, #poetry, creative-writing, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1918, featured, writing