Older, but no wiser

"To laugh is to risk appearing a fool, to weep is to risk appearing too sentimental, to reach out for another is to risk involvement, and to expose feelings is to risk exposing one's true self.

"To place your ideas and 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 all risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

"The person who risks nothing also does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. If we avoid risk we may avoid suffering and sorrow, but we simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live."

~ Leo Buscaglia ~

There are many things for which I thank my parents; regrettably, a sound education in the hazards of risking nothing isn't one of them.

Hat tip to Laura Young

Update: It seems more than coincidence that Rob Paterson posts this. The risk in my case is not about doing, it is about being.