Recently  I read this very inspiring poem by Janet Rand on the virtue of taking risks in one’s life

To laugh is to risk appearing 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 ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk being called naïve.

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 me taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing,

is nothing, does nothing and becomes nothing.

They may avoid sufferings and sorrow , but they can not

learn, feel, change, grow ,love, live.

Chained by their certitude ,they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.

Only a person who risks is truly free.