Do it afraid
that thing that makes your lips quiver
and your heart make sound enough
that it is base drum to the fear.
Do it afraid
the woman who seems out of your league
the job interview just beyond your skill
the conversation, dusty with need
the competition you could lose
the boundary wanting discipline
the discipline out of balance with joy
a song in front of a microphone
the painting in want of a canvas
that line you'd like to cross
a bridge you wish to burn
saying "I love you"
the life altering reply
asking for help
admitting defeat
offering your heart
facing the mirror
destroying the image
standing naked
a sober moment
holding on
letting go
trust
Whatever it is
do it
push through
Here is your growth measured
inch by inch
afraid.
an exhaustive study of the fearful human mind...How tiring it was to derive from every single line its depth and significance..because it is immense.." a sober moment holding on "...i hope you are pushing through Annie...
ReplyDeleteExactly! Emotions don't kill us - instead, they prove that we're alive. Let them come. You can handle it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good point Eric. Otherwise we are just going through the motions...a static life where the days move through, instead of us moving through the days.
DeleteYep... that's called stepping out of ones comfort zone. Doing something that scares you just a bit... It's good for you!
ReplyDelete~shoes~
My Zone is pretty damn big. Don't have to go far to step out of that thing :)
DeleteYou feeling better professor? Sure hope so.
fear,,,such a barrier sometimes, reckon?
ReplyDeleteDefinitively. I've been told more than once that I need to get out of my own way. The fear is an internal mechanism that often has no basis in fact. Too self protective. I understand where is comes from, I also understand where I can't go because of it.
DeleteThis is so perfect! I wrote to someone through "afraid" this week, explaining a misunderstanding from three years ago. It was the right thing to do, the response was positive, and I feel...lighter. Always plow through fear. The rewards are tremendous!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Even if the response were not as positive as you'd hoped, there would be growth from the plowing I believe.
DeleteThere is strength and an intelligence that comes from the fear as described and resolved. And the description evokes the title, almost mathematical, the coverage thorough. I do enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI think backing off from things perpetuates more fear, and diving in adds incremental bravery, so perhaps next time, it's not so intimidating or scary :)
DeleteI love your optimistic verse. And you've nailed it here.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, fear. We were programmed to fight, flee or freeze depending on the danger. Bells ring, alarms sound. But somewhere along the line our defenses for survival--a raging tiger, an oncoming car--got wired up with a blind date, a job interview. Same alarms but not the same danger.knowing the difference is hugely helpful
Your brave growth is obvious, ms ww. I'm still walking with jos. I think we might verge three amigos
Love
ms kj
Yes, I was told that fear is rather an irrational thing. If we think about something scary our body responds to it, even if there is no preset danger. The body can not differentiate. So interesting. A three amigos verge would be an awesome thing KJ. Maybe someday, eh?
DeleteI wouldn't say no, Annie :-)
DeleteI do nothing in fear. Flight is a different story.
ReplyDeleteAh yes :-)
DeleteI supposed there's a lot to be said about fear ...
ReplyDeletei think if we are holding our fear, certainly rather than running from it, then we are putting ourselves in a position to break through.
ReplyDeletei absolutely love this piece. there are so many insights, loaded with treasure and compact in its prose.
so f-ing great to read your stuff again:):)
Thanks Ed! Pushing through is exactly what I would like to do. Though writing about it is so far removed from actually doing it :) F-ing great to have you read friend! Hope you and the family are well!
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