Answering Fear, Not FleeingBy 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, honoredbut 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 growquietly in its place.