Monday, November 24, 2008

Risk

(Author unknown)

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to others is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a 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 risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to do 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 attitudes, they are a slave, they forfeited their freedom.

Only the person who risks can be free

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your words inspire!
Cara Mia

Anonymous said...

I need a version of this for a 10 1/2 year old. Immobilized by fear of risk. I don't know how to help her.

joyce said...

a perfectionist, perchance?

Roo said...

this post reminds me of a quote by madeleine l'engle:
"When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to be vulnerable."

Crystal said...

great post!

Anonymous said...

Life is full of risks....love is full of risks....so be it...L-lew