Jenny Owen Youngs

I'm riding the New York City subway home from work, and about 20 feet away from me stands this really good-looking guy, gorgeous blue eyes, thick, wavy brown hair. And I'm so taken by him, and I want to talk to him, but something holds me back. It's those same three fears I just mentioned. Fear of failure. What if he's married? Fear of uncertainty. What if he's a convicted felon?

Fear of judgment by others. What if 100 people watch me as I make a fool of myself on this packed train? So I sit there as the train passes stop after stop after stop. And frankly, Mike, as life passes me by. But I was still so excited about the prospect of this guy. And I was looking to get married at that time. So I was clearly keeping my eyes open.

Fear of judgment by others. What if 100 people watch me as I make a fool of myself on this packed train? So I sit there as the train passes stop after stop after stop. And frankly, Mike, as life passes me by. But I was still so excited about the prospect of this guy. And I was looking to get married at that time. So I was clearly keeping my eyes open.

Fear of judgment by others. What if 100 people watch me as I make a fool of myself on this packed train? So I sit there as the train passes stop after stop after stop. And frankly, Mike, as life passes me by. But I was still so excited about the prospect of this guy. And I was looking to get married at that time. So I was clearly keeping my eyes open.

And I said, OK, if he gets off at my stop, then I'm going to try to strike up a conversation with him. And if not, then that's the universe telling me it wasn't meant to be. Well, he gets off at the next stop, which is not my stop. And all of a sudden, this wave of wild courage washes over me and practically pushes me out of my subway seat. And I pry the doors open. I am not exaggerating.

And I said, OK, if he gets off at my stop, then I'm going to try to strike up a conversation with him. And if not, then that's the universe telling me it wasn't meant to be. Well, he gets off at the next stop, which is not my stop. And all of a sudden, this wave of wild courage washes over me and practically pushes me out of my subway seat. And I pry the doors open. I am not exaggerating.

And I said, OK, if he gets off at my stop, then I'm going to try to strike up a conversation with him. And if not, then that's the universe telling me it wasn't meant to be. Well, he gets off at the next stop, which is not my stop. And all of a sudden, this wave of wild courage washes over me and practically pushes me out of my subway seat. And I pry the doors open. I am not exaggerating.

I pry the doors open and I run off the train after him. I catch up with him. I tap him on the shoulder. I say, excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you. You're wearing gloves, so I can't tell if you're wearing a wedding ring. But in the event that you're not married, you were on my subway and I thought you were cute. Any chance I can give you my business card? And he calls the next day.

I pry the doors open and I run off the train after him. I catch up with him. I tap him on the shoulder. I say, excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you. You're wearing gloves, so I can't tell if you're wearing a wedding ring. But in the event that you're not married, you were on my subway and I thought you were cute. Any chance I can give you my business card? And he calls the next day.

I pry the doors open and I run off the train after him. I catch up with him. I tap him on the shoulder. I say, excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you. You're wearing gloves, so I can't tell if you're wearing a wedding ring. But in the event that you're not married, you were on my subway and I thought you were cute. Any chance I can give you my business card? And he calls the next day.

A week later, we go out. Three years later, we're getting married and we've now been married happily 11 years with two little hooligans ages seven and nine.

A week later, we go out. Three years later, we're getting married and we've now been married happily 11 years with two little hooligans ages seven and nine.

A week later, we go out. Three years later, we're getting married and we've now been married happily 11 years with two little hooligans ages seven and nine.

Right. So, yeah, when I teach wild courage, I definitely, I use that as an example, right? That seems like a very extraordinary example, but there are so many ordinary moments as well where it can come into play.

Right. So, yeah, when I teach wild courage, I definitely, I use that as an example, right? That seems like a very extraordinary example, but there are so many ordinary moments as well where it can come into play.

Right. So, yeah, when I teach wild courage, I definitely, I use that as an example, right? That seems like a very extraordinary example, but there are so many ordinary moments as well where it can come into play.

Just yesterday, someone voice memoed me and said, hey, Jenny, I've got such a, they'd read the book and she said, I've got such an exciting example of wild courage that I never would have done before. I applied for a role within my company. I had to fill out this online form and there was a box. I had to enter the number of years I have of XYZ type of specific marketing experience.

Just yesterday, someone voice memoed me and said, hey, Jenny, I've got such a, they'd read the book and she said, I've got such an exciting example of wild courage that I never would have done before. I applied for a role within my company. I had to fill out this online form and there was a box. I had to enter the number of years I have of XYZ type of specific marketing experience.

Just yesterday, someone voice memoed me and said, hey, Jenny, I've got such a, they'd read the book and she said, I've got such an exciting example of wild courage that I never would have done before. I applied for a role within my company. I had to fill out this online form and there was a box. I had to enter the number of years I have of XYZ type of specific marketing experience.

And I said seven years. And then I got an auto rejection. She filled out the rest of the form. She got an auto rejection because she got it immediately and learned that it was because she didn't have the right level of experience. So instead of just... I think a lot of people who are...