Risk poem by William Arthur Ward

I adore this poem because life has proved me that each time we take a risk, we win, we learn, we feel stronger, we feel happier, we feel invincible... By the way, have you noticed that bad luck is afraid of determined people?!!

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental

To reach out for another is to risk involvement

To expose your feelings is to risk exposing your true self

To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk embarrassment

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 at all.

The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing, and may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live.

Chained by their certitudes, they are slaves

They have forfeited their freedom

Only a person who risks is truly free

Photo: My first selfies taken at Mum's house last summer