Taking Risks

I've been to this support staff seminars our school gives annually and one of the speakers gave us a copy of a write up about taking risks. I don't know who wrote it and I can no longer remember the write-up word for word but it goes something like this:

"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool." So what? No matter what you do, some people may think of you as a nut case anyway so laugh. I'm having the time of my life while the sane person is dying of boredom.

"To cry is to risk appearing sentimental." That's okay. I'm not afraid to cry. I cry all the time. I cry when I'm happy, I cry when I'm sad, I even cry when I see other people crying or loving each other. It's good for me, it cleans my eyeballs.

"To reach out is to risk getting involved." What else is there in life than not being involved? I don't want to be an island and I don't think anyone can even be alone.

"To show your feelings is to risk exposing you humanity." Well, I'm glad to expose my humanity. There would be a lot worse things to expose than my humanity.

"To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss." That' all right. You can't win them all. And you can't be loved by everyone. There's always going to be someone who'd say, "He's a jerk."

You could be the most delicious peach in the world but some people would be allergic to peaches and would want you to be a banana. So you try to be a second rate banana and despair. But if you just be the beautiful peach that you are, someone will come along who is a peach lover and appreciate you for who you are.

"To love is to risk being loved in return." That's all right. You love because you want to, not because you want to get something in return. That's not love -- that's just manipulation.

"To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure." Nut risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. This way, you gain nothing, have nothing and in fact is a prisoner of your own fear. You avoid pain and suffering but also avoid joy, change, growth, life and love. Chained by your certitudes you are it's slave. One the person who risks is free.

I like taking risks and the above just adds more flame into my daily 'exploits'.