A Letter to Fear

Today, I’m sharing a letter that I wrote to Fear in August of 2011. It’s kinda sorta really cheesy, but it’s fine…at least in my quirky sense of humor. Enjoy it and maybe write one of your own. Cheers!

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Dear Fear,

This is a bit awkward, but we need to talk (yes, those 3 words). We’ve been together for far too long now, and it seems as though you’ve gotten comfortable wearing the pants in our relationship. You like to be in charge. I get it. But I do, too. So things are about to change.

Don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not saying we’re completely finished. We can still be friends 😉 To be honest, it really is you; it’s not me. Well, it’s kind of me…but it’s mostly you. See, I can’t just remove you from my life willy nilly. I know, I know…you’re just trying to protect me. But sometimes, you get a little needy and it becomes too much. You’re kind of like the helicopter parents who never get over their kid’s case. You call their professors to find out what grade your son or daughter got on an exam. Yeah…you’re that parent. 

It’s just that you try to go too far and protect me from making changes I need to make. You make it so difficult for me to distinguish between real fear–like I’m about to die–and illegitimate fears such as me constructing some nonsense in my head. The problems here are many. But the main idea is that you only think of the things that can go wrong. You never allow me to see clearly and focus on what can go right and what already is going right.

So, as of today, I’m making a change. I want to introduce to you Excitement. I think you two will get along nicely. Excitement is wayyyy more fun than you. He knows it. You know it. We all know it. I think that’s why you try to control me. Excitement can go a bit overboard and get a little crazy from time to time, so this is where I need you. Just chime in. Tell Excitement to “Shut up!”, and we’ll move from there. This doesn’t give you the ability to say whatever is on your mind, so don’t getting all *ahem* excited.

It’s just that, Fear, I really don’t fear you anymore; it feels great. I’ve embraced you, and I thank you for the things you’ve done. You’ve kept me in check and we’ve had our time. So, the next time we’re together, I want you to know that Excitement is coming with. And guess what…he’s riding shotgun. You can have the backseat. Sorry if it gets a little cramped back there. Excitement and I are pretty tall and we enjoy our leg room. But you’re more than welcome to tag along. And yes…you’ll probably maybe most definitely feel like the 3rd wheel. Because well, you will be.

We’re going to have a lot more fun, now that there are 3 of us.

So, I bid adieu to you my…”friend”…Can I call you that? Whatever. Anyway.

It’s been real. It’s been fun. Sometimes though, it hasn’t been real fun.

Love,

Samuel