What haunts you?

I love how timely and relevant it is that International Face Your Fears Day falls right at the start of October, just when all the spooky stuff like giant spider webs, clanking skeletons, and creepy ghosts start popping up. And that’s just in my neighborhood! I bet you’ve got some eerie decorations where you are, too!

International Face Your Fears Day is a wonderful opportunity to conquer the obstacles that prevent us from living our best lives. Those phobias that haunt our thoughts and prevent us from chasing our dreams. And a reminder that the joy of overcoming our fears is within our reach, filling us with hope and optimism for the future!

People are scared of all sorts of stuff, right? Like spiders (yup, we talked about that), bodies of water, blood, tight spaces, heights, animals, flying, and even the dark. Oh, and let’s not forget about the classic fear of public speaking! These are just a few of the things that make us all a little uneasy.

This reminds me of that Jerry Seinfeld quote about public speaking. You know, the one where he says:  “A recent survey stated that the average person's greatest fear is having to give a speech in public. Somehow, this ranked even higher than death, which was third on the list. So, you're telling me that at a funeral, most people would rather be the guy in the coffin than have to stand up and give a eulogy.”

I’ll explain why that quote is relevant to this article in a bit.

I've been keeping a journal since I was 11, and my family always knew I dreamed of being a writer. But they didn't encourage me because they thought it wasn't practical. So, after high school, I went to the local junior college my older brother also attended. He loved teasing me about my journal and always tried to sneak a peek at it. Seriously, what did he think I was writing about? My deep, dark secrets included who was cute on TV last night and how I wanted to write something that really mattered someday. In the end, my college experience led to a One Year Secretarial Certificate, and I landed a job as a secretary. I had to rewrite reports and memos for my bosses so that they actually sounded like proper English instead of engineering mumbo jumbo. 

I pursued every writing opportunity that came my way, helping out with my church and some women's groups by writing articles and putting together newsletters.

I kept writing in my journal for me.

Years pass, and something happens that breaks my heart and, at the same time, fulfills my wish to someday write something that matters.

My older brother passed away unexpectedly, and his grown children approached me to write his eulogy.

My skill at writing and confidence in sharing a story from the heart came together powerfully when I crafted a compelling eulogy that represented the true spirit of who my brother was. I wrote about my brother’s quirky sense of humor and determination to march to his own drummer, and despite my shaking voice and my wobbly knees, I went ahead and delivered the eulogy. I can still picture myself holding onto the podium to keep from falling over while I shared a scenario that illustrated exactly what the sweet, gentle guy he was. I delivered that message to the congregation, and they left the church laughing through their tears.

I felt incredibly mixed emotions—my heart was breaking and also bursting with joy! I got the chance to write and share a story that meant the world to me and my family! It moves me to tears, even now, when I was writing about it.

Now you see why I referenced the Seinfield quote. We all have our fears, right? But what if you could flip those fears and turn them into something positive?

There was a time when I was worried that my dream of being a writer might never happen. I was haunted by the thought that I’d never be able to write anything that really mattered.

Today, I can confidently say that my dream of being a writer came true!

I am a writer!

Again and again, I've written stories that matter not only to me, and they matter to my readers. I know I’ve had and continue to have an impact.  That feels amazing!

Sharing your story and your journey of overcoming fears can offer hope and inspire others. It's a powerful tool that can empower and motivate those around you!

My mission is to help women's voices be heard and shared with the world through whatever channel you choose to share. From books to blogs, I'll use my 40 years as a journalist to help you discover the story you are meant to share with the people who need you.

If writing scares you, I'd love to chat about how we can turn that fear into confidence in your unique story. Together, let’s craft your distinctive message that the world is waiting to hear! Book a time to talk with me today!