We each have a list of things we’ll risk, and a list of things we — hell no — will not.

Like, I’ll risk talking to a stranger on the subway, risk changing jobs or risk standing on stage to share my thoughts and feelings (Haayy TueNight Live!) But I would never risk skydiving — honestly, I feel like I’m taking a risk every time I get into ANY moving vehicle. Bodily risks are not my thing.  I am not too keen on risking strange meats. I might risk taking a hit of that joint, even though the voice of my mother yelling, “IT COULD BE LACED WITH SOMETHING!” still plays on a backchannel in my brain. 

At midlife, we hold many more calculations in our head, experiences to pull from, to decide if the risk is worth it. We can better gauge where the line is, and the categories where we’ll tempt fate, and where we’ll hold our cards. I feel a little less risky as I’ve grown older; I’ve found myself looking for safety in uncertain times. Other friends feel that 52 years old is the moment to make that leap — the “If not now, when?” has become just a little bit more insistent.

At our event tonight and this month on TueNight.com we’ll be sharing stories of all sorts of risks that grown-ass women are making — from coming out, to road testing racy lingerie to ditching a life-long career for something quieter. We’ll start with stories from Carmen Rita Wong and Bridgett M. Davis tonight, and stay tuned for new stories in the forthcoming weeks. A little preview:

• Carmen Rita Wong — on something she’s never said in public – until now
• Bridgett Davis — risks breaking a big-deal promise
• Taiia Smart Young — steps out in her own year of yes
• Stacy Morrison — flips a career risk
• Robin Gelfenbien — changes it up for a dream date gone awry

Here’s to living life on the edge,

Margit