Lean in, they say.

The wise ones tell us to embrace discomfort.

Make friends with it.

Hug my anxiety like it’s not a ghastly

nightmare of a stranger

with a gun full of bullets at my temple.

Look that panic straight in the eye

and grin

like it doesn’t have me pinned against a wall

with a vice-grip around my neck.

It’s hard to smile

when you cannot take a breath.

It’s hard to look anyone

in the eye

when you’re terrified to lift your gaze

off of the floor.

These wise ones, though,

they’re right.

They’ve just forgotten to mention

the steps in between.

Sometimes holding your head up

in the face of fear

is as close as you can come to embracing it.

Sometimes opening your eyes

as you panic

and taking one breath

is as bold a step as smiling.

I salute you, today,

those taking that breath,

those who are bravely, simply

standing upright.

~

Relephant Read:

Three Steps to Tackle the Overwhelm.

~

Author: Keeley Milne

Editor: Toby Israel

Photo: Author’s Own

~