One of the biggest regrets of my life starts with my best friend Dan. He was spending his summer in Australia, staying on a vineyard of a mutual friend of ours and spend time traveling. He kept suggesting I join him and I kept saying no.

All in all, he said the trip would cost around $5,000. I was using that as an excuse. Even though I had the money, I told myself the trip would cost too much. I have other things to do on my summer vacation. Whatever I could think of, I used as an excuse not to join him.

In reality, I was afraid.

I don’t know exactly what I was afraid of, but I was afraid.

Dan ended up having an amazing experience on the trip. He grew personally, strengthened current relationships, and developed new, long lasting relationships. All while I was in Brooklyn, doing the same old thing.

The following year, my friend and roommate Danny suggested we go to Brasil for the World Cup. It had been his dream to go ever since it was announced. Again, the same excuses came up. It will cost too much. I have other things to do. Whatever excuse you can think of, I had it.

One night, on a call with Robbie, he was asking members to join him for a European trip. Once again, the excuses came up. While giving my excuses of why I couldn’t go, I had also mentioned that I might be going to Brazil for the World Cup.

“What do you mean you might go?” “Well, the trip is kind of expensive and I don’t know if I am going to go yet. I might go.”“Do you like having fun?”“Yes.”“Do you like beautiful women?”“Yes.”“Then why won’t you go? What are you afraid of?”

I didn’t know the answer. I went to bed looking to discover my true thoughts and find my answer. What was I afraid of?

When I woke up the following morning, I went directly to my computer and purchased my round trip flight to Rio. When Danny walked out of his bedroom, I told him what had just happened.“I just bought my flight to Rio for the World Cup. I am going with or without you. Your move my friend.

Danny and I developed an amazing friendship on our two weeks traveling through Brazil during the World Cup and I still consider him one of my closest friends.

My fears were preventing me from growing and developing positive relationships with friends. My fears were preventing me having experiences of a lifetime. My goal now is to say yes whenever an opportunity presents itself to grow and develop friendships and experience life. What are your fears preventing you from doing?