Risk!

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental

To reach out for 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.

They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live

Chained by their certitudes, they are a slave,
they have forfeited their freedom