This is from a photograph (see second image) taken on my Alaska Mountaineering course with the National Outdoor Leadership School. I would not be who I am today without NOLS.

“To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for 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 despair. To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing. She may avoid suffering and sorrow, but she simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live.”

Dimensions: 18” x 24”