Risking Ourselves

"It's O.K. to ask dumb questions. It's easier than facing up to dumb mistakes." anonymous.

Very often we experience uneasiness and a sense of helplessness as we pursue our list of persons to whom we have done harm. This is because it takes a great deal of courage to face up to our own shortcomings.

A copy of a poem which appeared in a "Dear Abby" column might be helpful at this point.

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd, is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing do nothing, have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

Our responsibility is to ourselves. By accepting the need to end the qualms of conscience caused by our behavior toward others, we can face ourselve with affection and approval.

Today's Step: The risks I take in making amends pay off in terms of better relationships.