When was the last time you punched fear in the face?

Mid-April in Arizona is typically a couple months to early to swim. But with the Covid-19 quarantine all bets are off.

Last week, Ainsley (our oldest spawn) and I decided to swim. She approached the pool, walking around the edge until arriving at a planter wall that hugs the deepest corner of the pool. She crept to the edge and said, “I’m jumping in.” She’d done it before, but not yet this year. As she stood at the edge the anticipation of the cold water paired with the jump itself put her into fear induced paralysis. She’d talk herself into jumping, only to succumb to the anticipation of the jump.

After 5 minutes of almost jumping she looked at me, eyes watering, and said, “dad, I can’t do it.”

We had a quick talk. At the end, I flippantly said, “Baby girl, sometimes you just have to punch fear in the face.” For a 6 year old used to hearing why we don’t hit, this caught her off guard a bit. She giggled. She squatted down, staring at the water. Then, just as the fear started creeping back in, Teresa and I both shouted, “punch it in the face!” A smile emerged only to give way to a look of determination. She clenched her fists, squinted her eyes, and then launched forward into the air.

This blog is me punching fear in the face.

I analyze things. I strategize. I wait. That can and has led to great things. But, it often can lead to procrastination.

I’ve always enjoyed writing. I’ve always felt like I would write at some point in the future. Maybe a book one day, or maybe something else. But I always felt like writing was a ‘someday’ certainty. Oxymoron.

At some point I needed to start. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

So no plan for this blog. No strategy. Just me committing to writing, regardless of the outcome. Maybe it turns into something of value for other people. That would be great! Maybe this is just for me.

That ambiguity is unsettling. Yet, as Ainsley reminded me…

Sometimes you just have to punch fear in the face.

-CB