Dear reader,

“Jump!” “Do it! Go!” “Jump!”

She jumped.

The river was flowing slowly about 50 feet below. In the brief instance of free fall before she splashed into the water she was free from all havoc, just herself and the summer breeze. Then she hit the water, and the rocks just below the surface.

In a jump she had made numerous times before she made one little error and landed in an area quite a bit shallower than the usual splash zone. Both of her legs broke on impact.  Friends were able to pull her from the river. As she was dragged from the water people starred down from Jordan Bridge in Arlington, Wash., which spans the Stillaguamish River, rethinking their next move. Many people before her took the dive and many people continue to do so today.

This is the story of a friend of mine who took a risk with an outcome that was unfavorable, to say the least. She took a risk, as all of us do every day of our lives. That may be a cliché thing to say, but true nonetheless.

Risk is often associated with negative actions, but in this edition of Klipsun we explore the idea of risk in a broad spectrum. We learn what having a medical marijuana license really entails, how bull rider’s lives change eight seconds at a time and we get a detailed look into the life of homeless youth who call downtown Bellingham home.

As you read through this publication think about the risks you take every day, and the risks you didn’t take that could have changed who you are as a person. I know my life is different because of the risks I have taken; calculated and in the heat of the moment. I’ve placed some bad bets but I have also made some excellent investments.

How can we not associate risk with the things we do everyday? Come on, do you always look both ways before you cross the street?