Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that fear defeats more people than any other force on earth. I believe this is so.

Fear kills the songs inside of us, douses the flame, smothers our spirits. Fear is all around us, and we live in a world that bottles fear and sells it as news, safety, health,  politics, religion, even food and work.

So here, reader, is my idea. Make some noise for yourself. Sing your song. Write your story. Your poem. Paint your picture. Get another dog. Run to the mountain. Take a chance. Put your lips to the world. And just live.

There are so many reasons to be afraid. So many more to not be defeated by fear. Be brave.