“Courage isn’t the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live.
We all have fears and insecurities. For most of my childhood and adult life I have tried to tell myself that I am not afraid. I am a man, born to live on Earth and celebrate life and all it has to offer those
that choose to pursue it. To fear the unknown would make me mortal. Fear of the unknown is irrational because by definition it is not known. To subscribe to folklore and superstition is mindless
and malignant. Yet, why do I find seeds of doubt within myself? I try to push these seeds into the farthest compartment of my mind but they still jab at me.
“What makes you think you are worthy to dream the big dreams?” “Do you really think you have earned it all?” “You don’t have the experience to do something like that.” “You are going to aim too high and end up with nothing.” “Can’t you just be happy with your current success?” “You are going to make a mistake and then it will all be gone. Greed leads to poverty.” “Like a shooting star that
burns out; you shall too.”
I direct this message to that inner voice that makes these statements: “I challenge you to a duel.” I do not accept a reality in which you can dictate to me what the future will be. I rebuke your comments and I defy you to show me an instance where I have done nothing but remain steadfast in the pursuit of my dreams. You represent all that is evil in the world. You; a dream crushing pragmatist that stomps on me at my weakest moments. There will be a special place in hell for you. How many dreams have you destroyed? How many people have you stopped dead in their tracks before they even pursue their dream. You are total evil. You prevent creativity, imagination, vision. I dedicate my life towards stopping you dead in your tracks. I cast you away to the furthest regions of my universe locked within yourself and unable to spread your malicious tripe. I control you, not the other way around.