To laugh, is to risk playing the fool. To weep, is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out to another, is to risk involvement. To expose feelings, is to risk exposing our true selves. To put your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk 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 at all, 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, is nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they simply cannot learn, change, feel, grow, love, live... Chained by their attitudes they are slaves.
ONLY THE PERSON WHO RISKS IS FREE.
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Life is short..Live it sober to the fullest...One day at a time...
Yeah, when I was thinking about this post, Phil, later this evening? I thought one great thing that taking risks does for us, is to teach us to trust outselves more, and to trust others. If I don't take that risk, to share something very private or painful or even embarassing--I'll never discover how great it is to actually find someone to trust again.( and trusting means, we don't have to carry that load all by ourselves anymore--we can share it, making the load lighter) Trust is such a friggin big issue with so many of us. And it really does, taking risks sets you free in so many areas that can stagnate if we don't throw them out there. And it feels so so good when you discover that someone else trusts you and that they are willing to take that risk with you and share part of themselves. Thanks for this post...Wren
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i found god in myself/and I loved her/i loved her fiercely--Ntozake Shange
I share Chris' sentiments. AA taught me that it is o.k. to be vulnerable, and take those risks, even when sometimes, we look back on a deception that comes with such trust, it really does not matter, we overcome the dissapointment and see that it really had nothing to do with our trust, it was on them, their side of the street stuff, which allows us to go on with our continued openness, and taking those risks. We have opened our lives up to living life, really for the first time, going with what Life on Life's terms means, and that they will always include dissapointments, that are overshadowed by a deepening sense of trust for those that turn out to be the other, a true friend, offering love, without judgment.
We do finally get to grow up and live freely, with taking these risks.
Speaking of risks. I take risks every day when I open your posts and e-mails. LOLOL!!!
Just kidding. I'm kind of in a place where I'm thinking about taking a risk. Don't really wanna talk about it but the way I figure if you never take risks you can never be let down. If you do take risks you open yourself up to change, whether good or bad. I've heard it described as positive risk taking. Something to risk that could result in a good situation. Not like saying maybe if I go to the bar I could not drink and make some friends. Well, that doesn't make sense but neither do a lot of thoughts that go through my head! I'm shutting up.
