You can

We are all scared, I said.

I know but I’m really scared.

Of what?

Everything. I’m scared of everything.

Well cut that shit out. A short laugh. Not unkind.

I can’t.

You can. Pick them out one at a time, those fears. A small one first. Take out your sword and your shield and brandish them like a warrior in full flight. Run at it hard. Like your life depends on it. When you get closer you’ll see: it’s not so big. Then pick the next one. Fight those battles.

I can’t.

You can. Here, take my sword. It is old and worn, but sharp like a razor. Straight and true.

I can’t.

You can. You will get stronger after the first one, and the next one, and the one after that. I’m right here. I’ll back you up. You can do this.

I can?

You can.

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22 comments

  1. I recently reread “The Snow Queen,” which has parts that I love, but also has always been a source of frustration for me, because, well…the heroine’s just a bit of a wet blanket. She sets off to rescue her friend from the Snow Queen, but on the way she keeps getting sidetracked, there are too many obstacles, and she keeps having to sit down and cry and then ask strangers for help because she can’t really do anything on her own. At one point she has to walk across the tundra barefoot because she absentmindedly left her shoes behind at someone’s house.

    But, in the end, she cries her way straight across the world to the North Pole, and brings her friend back home. After crying on him so hard that the Snow Queen’s spell breaks (no, really!). And currently I think that this is a nice reminder that you can be afraid and vulnerable and overwhelmed, without being -defeated.-

    1. *laugh* “She cries her way straight across the world” is so funny.

      That would be really frustrating to watch, but yes it is a nice reminder.

      Ferns

  2. So true and so well said. No matter how often repeated and no matter how many different ways it is said, we all need to be reminded. This is the right approach anytime we’re faced with something overwhelming. “A journey of a 1000 miles, begins with a single step.” “The only way to finish an entire large, combo pizza, is to eat the first slice.” “You can’t finish a 16 gallon beer keg other than by pouring the first beer funnel.” This is wise, ancient wisdom. Thanks!

  3. I like the reminder that the biggest battles can be broken down and fought on a smaller scale. I often, too often, forget that. I’ve been trying to spring clean and gotten no where for a week! Feeling angry with myself and yet still procrastinating rather than tackle it all. Got thinking I just need to break it down this morning. Read your post just now – a sure sign I should be getting to work instead of reading posts on Twitter. But, thanks for this post and I did have a few laughs about a couple of your posts on Twitter today too. Hello from half way around the world in Ontario, Canada.

  4. This is so beautiful and something that really resonated with me, to the point it made me well up with tears. Thank you.

    I’m off to sharpen my sword to use alongside my partners shield.

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