Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Father Fear

Lately I've noticed fear hanging around.

Sometimes it's dark and heavy.
Other times it's quietly casting shadows.

But it's there.
Fear.

It's an interesting emotion. One I didn't always view as such.
Sometimes it looked like anxiety. Or anger. Or sadness.
Deep down, though, at the root of all those other emotions was simply fear.

Father Fear as I like to call it.
The one that has existed forever.
The one I rarely question.
It's so deeply rooted in my life experiences it becomes truth.

I am honestly scared to walk alone, day or night.
I am afraid that any depressed person I know will consider suicide.
I hear the word cancer and I cannot breathe.

Fear.
Big Father Fear.
Paralyzing, heart pounding, dream squashing fear.

Why do I let it win?
Why don't I question it?
Since when does fear trump passion? faith? love?

Truth is, I don't have the answer.
But I know this:

Fear + Courage = Progress

Just last week, for the first time ever, Brooklyn met a big, ongoing medical fear, and showed great courage. She breathed, remained calm and believed she could. And she did.

Major progress.

Five years ago, scared out of my mind, I left my full time job to spend more time with my children.  I found courage to let go of assumptions and ideals and the opinions of others. Thanks to a courageous heart, I have spent the last five years amassing time and memories with my children, without a single regret.

This is massive personal progress on my path to a life well-lived.

So now, it's time.
To have courage, once again.
All of us.
To really live our lives.
Love our here and now.

Engage our passion.
Make our perfect moment.
Manage without the money. time. guarantee.
Embrace the nonlinear path.

Find our courage.
Breathe.
Stay calm.
Have faith.
And love.

The only way to beat Father Fear, is to embrace him.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

A little unsteady

Three months down, and I am not a fan of 2017.

I have friends fighting bitter divorce and custody disputes.
Friends who have lost their children.
Friends battling bullies like radiation, depression and infertility.
Friends in a self-described funk.

I know people who are struggling, 
I am struggling,
to understand why life can be so outrageous and cruel.

I have nightmares about cancer, head lice and broken cell phones.
I worry about doctor appointments, childhood friendships and my career.

A headache turns into brain surgery and a stomach ache turns into relapse, if I don't stop myself from going all the way there.

"Hold
 Hold on
 Hold on to me
 'Cause I’m a little unsteady
 A little unsteady" - X Ambassadors

There is a collective sense of unsteady. 
We are collectively holding our breath.

It's time to take back our power.
Breathe, friends.
Breathe, self.
Anchor.

One day.
One hour.
One breath at a time.

We will persist.
We will rise.
We will triumph.
We will strengthen.

And in the meantime, we will hold on, together.
We are not alone.
We are simply unsteady.