What is the Difference Between Risk and Adventure?

I probably hit my mid-life crisis when I was 35.  A bit on the youg side I think but it was only when I had taken action to alleviate the panic that I realised what it was.
What you have understand is that up until then I had played life safe.  I lived by the "rules," despite appearances to the contrary I cared too much about what other people thought and worst of all, I waited for life to happen.
When I hit 35 and none of my major dreams had materialised my mortality hit me across the face and said, "What are you waiting for?"
And I had no answer.  
I had prayed, cleared Chakra's, did visualisations, vision boards, you name it.  And nothing.
It was when my "crisis" hit that I began to do one thing I think the universe requires of us.  TAKE ACTION.
It was when I started to make phone calls, appointments, put pen to paper, that the Universe took equal action.  Projects got completed, results were positive and changes were made.
Does that mean I never needed the Universe in the first place?  No.  The changes that came about relied on other people, circumstances and nature - none of which I could influence on my own.
But why hadn't I done anything before?  Despite the tears, the anguish, the hope, the positivity, why was I always waiting?
It got me thinking recently about how I used to perceive some of my dreams as a risk.  Now I think of them as an adventure.  The difference is subtle but largely a state of mind.  And as we are all learning, state of mind affects the outcome of everything we do.
The only real risk is not doing anything at all.  Nothing will change, nothing can come to you, nothing will move.  Is that the reality you are dreaming of?
When I got tired of waiting for life to happen to me, I decided to go and get it.  I figured the Universe would meet me somewhere in the middle.  I'm not talking about putting it all on red or black.  That's not living your life and heading towards a dream.  That's throwing it away and absolving yourself of responsibility.
If I could go back and talk to my younger self I would tell her to stop thinking and start doing.  For a long time I mistook "letting go" for "doing nothing".  I can only imagine what I could have achieved if I had figured this out years ago.
If I could give young people a gift that keeps on giving it would be aspiration supported by intention.  Aspiration coupled with Intention will send you on the most amazing life adventure.  
If you are reading this and recognise yourself as someone who is sitting at the Universal Bus Stop, get up and walk.  Who knows what (or who) might come your way? 
What is the one thing you would tell your younger self, or the message you want to express to young people reading this?

Best wishes, Anna

Anna Andrews has written The East Lake Series for YA ebook readers, which starts with Heaven High.   Available on Amazon and  most major ebook retailers.