Poem #1 - Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose 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 believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the
greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing,
have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change,
grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves;
they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

~ from page 147 of the book "Addiction by Prescription"
by Joan Gadsby ~

Because of a personal situation that occurred today, I remembered this poem I first heard 10 years ago, on the TV programme 'Castaway 2000' which was on the BBC. I think everyone is at times afraid to take the harder path, to take a risk, and I hope that I can read this poem, remember this poem and make a choice to be brave.