Fighting The Battles Within

Fear,

You have been my closest companion since the moment I took my first breath. You have shielded me from ridicule, judgment, embarrassment, heartbreak, harm, and death. Each night, you wrapped me in a comforting blanket, whispering softly in my ear, “The wolves are loose. Stay inside, and you’ll be safe.” And so, I did. I obeyed every command you gave, and more.

But now, the safety you provided has become a rusted enclosure. I find myself pacing from one wall to the next, endlessly, like a caged tiger. Is this truly all that life has to offer a man—a never-ending pursuit of safety? Where is the adventure, the unclimbed mountain peak, the pursuit of life well lived? When does that begin, friend?

Well, the wolves that once lurked in the shadows have mostly disappeared, and the night no longer harbors evil spirits. The dangers that remain are man made, and I have begun to learn how to counter them. For all the warnings you gave me of death and destruction, I now see they were often exaggerated—fearful imaginations wrapped in falsehoods. With each caution you whispered, you stole moments of my life, robbing me of experiences I was too afraid to face.

I trusted your counsel, as one trusts a friend. And yet, the time has come for you to step aside. No longer will I heed your voice without question. You may still speak, but only when your words are tempered with reason and the heart. For I have come to understand something vital—that life’s truest growth lies not in avoiding hardship, but in embracing it. There are moments that demand we face ridicule, judgment, embarrassment, heartbreak, harm, and even death. To shy away from them is to shrink from the very things that shape us, the very things that allow us to expand beyond the walls we’ve built.

So, my old friend, I bid you farewell—not in anger, but with gratitude. For you’ve served your purpose, and now I must venture forth without your constant shadow. It’s time to live—not just exist.