As every blossom fades

and all youth sinks into old age,

so every life’s design, each flower of wisdom,

attains its prime and cannot last forever.

The heart must submit itself courageously

to life’s call without a hint of grief.

A magic dwells in each beginning and

protecting us it telss us how to live.

High-purposed we must traverse realm on realm,

cleaving to none as to a home.

The worldof spirit wishes not to fetter us

but raise us higher, further, step by step.

Scarce in some safe accustomed sphere of life

have we established house, then we grow lax:

he only who is ready to inspan

and journey forth can throw old habits off.

Maybe deaths' hour too will send us out

new-born toward undreamed-of lands,

maybe life's call to us will never find an end...

Courage, my heart, take leave and fare thee well!

 

(Hermann Hesse, in The Seasons of the Soul: The Poetic Guidance and Spiritual Wisdom of Hermann Hesse, Paperback, 2011)

The poem speaks of the time when you need to leave an old situation behind to start over. According to Hesse, change is an absolute necessity, which continues until death. What do you think are the risks associated with a lack of courage to change?