Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss.
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 risk must be taken, because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing – does nothing, has nothing and is nothing
She may avoid suffering and sorrow but she simply
Cannot learn, feel, love, change, or live.
Chained by her certitudes, she is a slave
She has forfeited freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.