Taylor Swift - Fearless

This is a thought that began awhile ago.  Roughly one and one half months to be exact.

I was rollerblading downtown with my sister and one of our friends.  Myself and said friend bladed up this ramp onto a small stage they have set up for local weekly concerts as part of our downtown cultural theme, a summer event called Parks Alive.  Anyways, it was earlier in the day and the thing was empty so we went up on it.  My friend continued right across and jumped off, over the stairs (they encircle the front and sides of the stage, kind of set up like the base of a pyramid).  I was too chicken and slowed down, then walked down the three steps.

When I caught up to him again, I was like, "I could never do that."  "Do what?"  "Jump the stairs like you just did."  "Oh.  You can't let fear stop you."  He looked back at me.  "No fear."  It stuck in my brain.  I couldn't get it out for days.  So I thought about it.

Now, sidetrack with me for a minute.  I have eyesight issues.  I own glasses, and have since grade 5.  My mother purchased contacts for me about three years ago, but for whatever reason, I was absolutely terrified of them/the thought of sticking something into my eyeball.  I was so scared that for months whenever I attempted to put my contacts in, even if someone was helping me, I would hyperventilate, cry, and basically shrink into a quivering ball.  I kept trying every few months, and the first time I successfully put my own contacts in by myself it took me almost an hour - and longer to get them out.    But I did it, and that was good enough for me.

Back to rollerblading story.  As mentioned, I thought and thought about what my friend had said.  No fear.  I put the pedal to the metal and got serious.  He was right.  A few days later, I dug out my contacts again.  This time, I put all my former practice into play, but I added that new thing - no fear.  It took me ten minutes.  I was elated.  I wore my contacts like three times that week.

A couple weeks, maybe a month later, same friend and I go for a hike up to one of my favorite viewing spots in town.  I wore the contacts.  At some point, I told him, ``You`re the reason I`m wearing contacts today.``  He was confused.  I explained.  ``When we went rollerblading that time, you told me to have no fear.  I was afraid of my contacts.  I chose to do it anyway, and I`m wearing them today because you inspired me to conquer my fear.``  He then said something even wiser. ``Yep, fear`ll kill ya.``

It`s true.

Backtrack to Thanksgiving weekend three years ago (Canadian Thanksgiving, that is XD).  I`m rollerblading with another friend from my class, grade 11 that year.  He lived by a baseball park then, and I had often rollerbladed by his house.  I would go past the park, and then there were two options:  go straight and head up a decently sized hill, or turn right and go behind the park.  I had always taken the same route around - up or down the hill, to or from the same road, every time.  But this time I`m with my buddy.  He`s got a cold, and he`s not done too many hills on his blades.  So he suggests we turn right.  Here`s the clincher.

I literally stopped.  Without thinking or questioning why.  I was full of confusion and fear of where the other road might go.  Remember, I`d never gone down it.  Remember also, my friend lived in the neighbourhood and knew the area.  I should`ve and could`ve trusted him easily and just gone with him.  But instead, I stopped.  I remember being super disoriented and uncomfortable with the idea of taking a different road, and I remember saying out loud, ``But I`ve never been down there before.``

Thankfully, I have very understanding and loving friends.  He didn`t call me stupid, laugh at me, or do anything else one might expect.  He simply said, `Well, let`s try something new today.  It`ll be okay, I know where I`m going .``  So I followed him, like a child, and guess what - I`m still alive today, nothing catastrophic happened.  My fears were groundless.

I have a super hard time with change, and although it`s been improving over the last few years, I still have to put in quite a bit of effort sometimes to accommodate something new or unexpected in my life.  That is a huge part of why I was afraid of my contacts... but when my buddy said, `Fear`ll kill ya,`` that scene of the two roads flashed through my head.  I knew he was right.

I`ve had to make choices to not panic.  I`ve made, and still am making choices every day.  But ever since that walk, I`ve made the choice to not let fear control my life.  It`s changed me.  Now, I wear my contacts nearly every day.  I can put them in and take them out in less than five minutes.  And because I forced myself to overcome my fear, every time I look in the mirror and see myself without glasses, I`m reminded that I can choose.  Fear will not control me.  I have beautiful eyes, and every time I look in the mirror I see them, without those glasses, unobstructed.  And every time, I feel beautiful - something I didn`t feel too often before.  Because I chose to overcome.  Because my friend taught me something I didn`t realize before.  Because fear will kill you.

What are you afraid of?  Is fear stopping you from living a full life - from taking opportunities, from trying new things, or improving your surroundings - or maybe even yourself?  I don`t think my buddy knew what would result from a seemingly regular comment, but he changed my life that day.  I challenge you to pick something you`re afraid of, right now, and conquer it.  Look it in the face, hold your breath, jump off the cliff, and break the barrier.  Whatever it takes, because fear will only hold you back.  Maybe you can even inspire someone else, like my friend did for me. How can you encourage and help someone you know to overcome their fears and live a better life?

Fear may kill, but we`re not dead yet.  Fight back.  You`re worth it.  I know you can do it.  You are stronger than fear.  Fight it with everything you have, and help change the world with your stories of conquest.