Taking risks…

This is a poem that was given to me during my JET orientation in DC. 

As excited as I was for this trip, I still was very terrified… this poem gave me the peace and confirmation I needed to get through.  

I hope it touches you the same way.

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk exposing your true self,
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 be taken,
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But they simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Only the person who risks is free.

Author Unknown