Contributed by David D.
At one time or another, I have had doubts of one sort or another and they usually show up in the form of questions like these: Is this the right thing for me to be doing? Have I made the right decision? What if my plan doesn’t work out? Should I just play it safe?
On one such occasion, while speaking to a friend about an idea I was working on, I shared with her my fears about the riskiness of my venture. After talking things through with me, she helped me remember why I was pursuing this course of action in the first place. Then she followed up by sending me a short poem which serves as a reminder to trust that, things have already worked out because, being all in has own rewards.
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 risks 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.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love – live.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he has forfeited freedom.
Only a person who risks is Free.
Anonymous
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