[thorn bird]

Something unusual but it jingled a bell.

THE DANGERS OF RISK

A poignant poem which may, or may not, reflect on our industry which, after all, is so much about risk, and perhaps reflects on life in general.

This poem was discovered in an old decaying hut in the wilderness of South West Tasmania by an intrepid explorer. Scrawled in a small tattered notebook many decades before him by another intrepid explorer. It resonated with him, as it did with me.

RISK

“To Laugh is to RISK appearing the fool

To weep is to RISK being called sentimental

To reach out to another is to RISK involvement

To expose feelings is to RISK showing your true self

To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to RISK being called naïve

To love is to risk not being loved in return

To live is to RISK Dying

To Try is to RISK failure

But RISK must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing

The people who risk nothing

Do Nothing

Make nothing

Have nothing

Are nothing

And become nothing

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

Chained by their servitude to risk, they are slaves, they forfeit their freedom.

Only the people who risk are truly free."