Fear

Fear, the ultimate obstacle.  I'm not talking about "that lion is about to eat me" or the "was that State Trooper I just passed?" kind of fear.  I'm talking about the kind of fear that stops you in your tracks, seizes your vocal chords, brings the whole world to a complete standstill.  

The type of fear that catches your words before they can come out and shoves them to the side, or twists and changes them into something completely different before they're uttered.  

The fear that stops you from saying what your heart and mind want to say, no, need to say. 

That fear that won't let you, that holds you in place, stammering, sweating, heart racing, gasping for breath, unable to focus and have a clear thought.

The fear that keeps you from moving forward and reminds you that you could easily lose what's already behind you.

And the worst part of that fear is when it's not unfounded, unwarranted, or irrational.

So, yeah.  I'm afraid.  Scared to death.

Friends

So...what if I said I didn't want to be your friend anymore?

Sports metaphors and standing on the edge

Ok, so, am I Babe Ruth or Pete Rose?

Do I shoulder my bat, point to the fence, call my shot, and hope my planets are properly aligned and I knock it out of the park?

Or, do I screw up miserably to the point where the mere mention of my name is the punch line to a cruel joke?

Can I risk it all and put my head on the chopping block...again? Do I dare take that chance with so much to lose?