Prompt: What fears have you overcome—and what did they teach you?
There was a time when I moved through life freely—fiercely independent, always able to rely on my own strength. I could cook, clean, care for myself, and go wherever I pleased. Then one day, everything changed.
In midlife, I was diagnosed with a degenerative illness that slowly robbed me of the use of my arms and legs. With it came a wave of fear I had never known before. Not just fear of the unknown—but fear of being completely alone.
I depended on caregivers for daily support—meals, grooming, bathing. But what happens when your help doesn’t show up?
I remember one morning so clearly. I was waiting at the table by the phone, hungry and thirsty, and my caregiver didn’t arrive. Thirty minutes passed. I called—no answer. Another 15. Still nothing. I called again. Silence.
I sat in my wheelchair feeling helpless. The fear crept in like a shadow: What if no one comes? What if I’m forgotten?
Then came a knock on the door.
It was my neighbor—stopping by, unannounced, to drop off a bag of lemons. She couldn’t come in, but her presence was a miracle. I shouted from the inside, “Please call me—right now.” And she did.
That moment shifted something deep within me.
I was never really alone. Even when I couldn’t move, couldn’t reach out—God was already sending help.
Since then, I’ve learned to let go of what I cannot control. I’ve released the fear of being forgotten, and I rest in the quiet confidence that I am always being cared for—even in ways I don’t expect.
So I ask you:
What fear have you faced, and what did it teach you about yourself—or about life?
Writer Works Coaching 