Risks

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool

To weep is to risk being called sentmental

To reach out to another is to risk involvement

To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self

To place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd,

Is to risk being called naive

To love is to risk not being loved in return

To live is to risk dying

To hope is to risk despair

To try is to risk failure

But risks must be taken, because the

greatest risk in life

is to risk nothing

The person who risks nothing, does nothing,

Has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing

He may avoid suffering and sorrow

but he simply cannot

Learn, feel, change, grow or love

Chained by his certitude, he is a slave

He has forfeited his freedom

Only the person who truly risks, is truly free

- Janet Rand