Fear Not may sound like a strange thing to say in today’s world when everywhere you turn, you're told to be afraid. Be afraid of climate change, afraid of politics, afraid of cuts to Medicaid, afraid of being picked up or hurt because you look different, or... I could go on and on. And those are just the new things we are afraid of. We already had a laundry list of fears before these new ones emerged. So how can I say Fear Not? Maybe I’ve lost it—or maybe not. Let’s take a closer look. Yes, there is a chance that all these things could happen. Yes, there is also a chance that none of these things will happen. Or, perhaps, some of these things will happen but to varying degrees. So, shouldn’t I be afraid? First of all, what does fear actually get you? You worry, you plan, and you try to think about what you will do—but it may not happen at all. My mom always had a contingency plan in case something happened to my father. Even as a small child, I remember her making plans just in case Daddy was no longer there. Now, at the age of 91, with my dad at 93, they are still together, and my sister has moved in to take care of them. All those years of planning and worrying about what she would do could have been spent on other things—things like enjoying life, watching butterflies, reading good books, and truly living. Fear-driven worrying and planning often aren’t helpful. Either things turn out worse than expected, rendering your plan useless, or only part of what you feared happens—and it’s not nearly as bad as you imagined. Fear can keep you from truly living. When you become so enmeshed in worry, it becomes hard to see the things to be grateful for. It becomes hard to see beauty. It becomes hard to see possibility. Fear is contagious. When you hold on to it and spread it to others—because, after all, they need to know the world is ending—it strains relationships. There is nothing worse than two people fighting for the last lifeboat. Rather than working together so both can survive, fear makes them think that if they’re the only one, there’s more for them. And finally, dwelling on fear all the time will drive you insane—literally insane. If you must keep up with what’s going on, limit your time to 30 minutes or an hour at most per day. Then do anything that isn’t worrying. Plant a garden, take yourself to the movies, walk in the park, visit with positive friends—anything that shifts your focus. Don’t bring up your worries in conversation, and if someone else wants to talk about them, let them know the time you’ve set aside for that. Otherwise, you’re not participating in the discussion. It’s truly for your own sanity. As a famous leader once said, We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And it’s true. There are people who want us to be afraid. People who are afraid are easier to manipulate. People in fear are easier to control because they stop thinking for themselves and start asking others to think for them. People living in fear begin to consider giving up. They think It’s too much, too hard, and there are no possibilities. That’s what fear does to us. I’m here to tell you: You are bigger than fear. You are stronger than worry. You are full of possibility. The future is uncertain. You can’t prepare for every possibility. Do what you can, then let go and live. Be a part of the world. Be a part of the solution and the possibilities. Do not be led—lead. Do not be afraid—find joy in gratitude. Do not despair—find possibility. You can—because you are you. You have wisdom born of pain. You have already paid the price, and look how much you have gained. If you had to, you could do anything. Those are lyrics from I Am Woman by Helen Reddy—and they are true. We have been through so much. We can rise above this and help others find their possibilities as well. Be good to you. .