The first topic that came to mind when thinking about what I should write in this blog was “risk.” Taking risks was never easy for me, and fear stifled my growth as a person many times in my past (and sometimes still does). In my work with clients, I realized that reaching out for help can be risky. Allowing oneself to be vulnerable and share difficulties and challenges with another person can be risky. I know the fear of pain and being hurt oftentimes makes me think twice about taking a risk, even when not taking the risk may hurt more. I want to share a poem a good friend and colleague shared with me several years back that helps give me strength when fear tries to stop me from taking healthy risks in my life:

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place, your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To hope is to risk pain.
To try is to risk failure.
But risk must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

William Authur Ward

I hope this can offer you some strength when it is necessary for you to risk reaching out, laughter, hope, cry, or love. Taking these risks can be scary, but they are the very things that can make life joyful and worth living.