While revising through my therapy books I came across this poem. It's a poem I used for my work with young people's Emotional Health and Well being, for adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other Traumas  I thought it maybe useful for people.   The poem is as follows:

RISKS

To laugh is to risk being a fool

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental

To reach out for another is to risk involvement

To show feelings is to risk showing yourself

To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss

To love is to risk being loved in return

To live is to risk dying

To hope is to risk despair

To try is to risk failure

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing

Those who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing and are nothing

They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live

Chained by their certainties, they are slaves, they have forfeited their freedom

ONLY A PERSON WHO RISKS ........ IS TRULY FREE

Iris