Risk

To fully live,
to fully love,
to get close to someone,
Is to become vulnerable
and risk getting hurt.
But to stay in my shell
where I feel
comfortable and safe
is a greater risk by far—
For to risk nothing
is to risk everything.
Instead of living fully
I'll be dying slowly
And never will discover
the joy of loving nor the high
achievement of becoming
all that I was meant
and created to be.