Risks

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 yourself.
To love is to risk
	not being loved in return.

To love is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure.

But risk we must –
Because the greatest risk in life 
	is to risk nothing:
One who risks nothing
	does nothing
	has nothing
	is nothing.

He may avoid suffering – 
	but he simply cannot
learn, feel, change, grow, love or live.

Dr. Jagdish Parikh