Who is a free person?

This inspiring, thought-provoking piece of writing was forwarded to me by e-mail; I just couldn’t resist sharing it with you all.

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool;

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental;

To reach out for another is to risk involvement;

To express your feelings is to risk exposing your true self;

To love is to risk not being loved in return;

To live is to risk dying;

To believe is to risk despair;

To try is to risk failure;

But risk we all must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing;

The people, who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing;

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

Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have given away their freedom;

ONLY THE MAN WHO RISKS IS A FREE MAN