Fear.
It's everywhere.
Fear of flying. Fear of snakes. Fear of terrorists. Fear of losing our job. Of getting hurt. Of not having enough money for rent.
Of being alone.
Living a life that is not dictated by fear is next to impossible. Let's be honest; the majority of our decisions are based off of fear.
And yet can you imagine how different the world would be if we made decisions based off of love instead? I can barely imagine that and I'm a fairly creative person. It would be...well it would be absolutely amazing, wouldn't it?
Imagine living in a world where we choose to do something not because we are afraid to lose something, but simply because we wish to give something. Where we don't worry about the bad things that could happen but rather hope for the good things that could.
This is a challenge I've given to myself over the past several years. As an author, I put a piece of myself in whatever I write. When I first started writing, I talked about adventures I went on, whether in reality or in the dreamscape. But as I've gotten older, I have begun to embrace the deeper truths. I am not perfect. Here are my flaws. I'm not afraid of them anymore. You can't hurt me by using them against me.
Coming out had a lot to do with that, of course. I've dealt with my fair share of asshats who are more concerned with who I sleep with than what I accomplish in public. And as I've navigated those treacherous waters, I learned a lot about myself.
I learned I don't want to live in fear anymore.
I learned I won't live in fear.
And, most importantly, I've learned that others need to hear that once in a while. Maybe to motivate, though I do not consider myself a good role model. But just so others know they are not alone. We all have moments in our lives where we let the fear take control. We all need to be reminded that we have another option, another path to take.
That, in essence, is what THE BORN AND THE MADE is about. It is my most personal work yet. It took a lot to write. I needed to dig deep and phrase my pain and fear in a way that tells anyone reading it that it's OK to be afraid. But we can't let that fear steer our lives.
I hope you like it. If you do, tell me. If you don't, tell me that too.
I'm not afraid.
