by Katrina Norman

Created on: April 22, 2008   Last Updated: July 16, 2010

Courage is not living without fear, it's having the bravery to stand up to it.

There are many times in my life when I could have backed down. There are too many times when I did, but no more. Fear cannot and will not control me any longer. It doesn't matter what anyone else says or believes because I believe in myself. I know that fear only has power over you when you let it. I've faced the beast and won.

Afraid of being alone. Afraid of dying alone. Afraid of never finding that special someone to share my life with. Afraid that people won't like me, accept me, or find me worth while. Afraid to speak my mind. Afraid that if I stopped talking people would see that there really wasn't anything to me...
But there is! I am strong. I am smart. I am kind, caring, loving, and good. I have so much worth, so much to give and offer.

Bring it on and do your worst, I'm ready!

Whenever someone tells me it's too much or I can't do it, I can't handle it; that's when I strive to prove them wrong. Don't put your limitations on me.  I measure my life and my accomplishments by my own standards, not anybody else's.  There are those who may doubt, those who may look down on me and think that they are better. They can think it all they want. It doesn't make it true.  I walk my own path.  I follow the beat of my own tune.  I know what it's like to fall down time and time again. More importantly I know what it's like to keep getting back up.

My heart has been broken, and my trust betrayed; yet I do not let that stop me. Wounds heal, and to stop believing in love would be more of a tragedy than the risk of being hurt again. No walls are needed to guard my heart, it is open and free. It does not take courage to shut yourself off, but to put yourself out there.

Why worry if someone will like you or not? If they don't, oh well, then you are better off surrounding yourself with people who do.
Why worry about how others see you? It's all about what you see when you look at yourself.

Run from fear and you will be running for the rest of your life. Face it, make it run from you. Hunt it down and concur it!

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