This is one of my proudest moments. I had just plank-crawled through a narrow tunnel inside a cave and made it out the other side to scale up this rock. As someone with claustrophobic issues, this was a big win in my book. •• When I travel, people ask me all the time, “how are you not afraid?”; “and you’re not scared?”; or something of the kind. •• Let me be clear: I’m afraid. A LOT. I’ve started hyperventilating walking in narrow, suffocating tunnels under a cool old fort. I’ve cried during bad turbulence. I’ve felt my heart rate jack up and my skin crawl as darkness falls on the lonely, unfamiliar, backwoods road I’m driving. •• But I resolved a long time ago not to let irrational fear stop me from things I love. So I bear it, try different methods to deal with it - and just go on. •• Rational fears are useful. They tell us when a situation is dangerous and we need to get out. These should always be heeded. •• But if you’re afraid of something and know it’s not all that rational..find something that motivates you more than your fear is holding you back. Talk to a therapist. Do whatever helps. But most of all, know that EVERYONE is afraid of something. Don’t think everyone else is brave and you’re just failing. We’re all a little bit scared inside. . . . .