Answering Fear, Not Fleeing
By Annette Camp
September 6, 2025
Fear rises,
a familiar pull at the
edges of my heart.
It whispers to retreat,
to protect, to run before
I feel the weight of loss again.
But this time, I pause.
I notice the tremor, the
instinct to escape,
and instead of yielding,
I let the fear speak.
I listen.
I see what it carries—
memories, pain, patterns,
and I respond with
awareness, not avoidance.
You lay out your truths
like letters in a box,
folded carefully, honored
but not ruling the present.
I honor mine,
acknowledge the past,
and choose presence.
Together we step slowly,
with patience as our guide,
with words bridging
uncertainty, with care
that builds rather than divides.
This lesson is not about
perfection, but about
choosing to stay,
to answer fear with
attention, to turn
toward connection,
and let trust grow
quietly in its place.