Nameless Fear

Let me tell you the difference between bravery and cowardice. Both know of the nameless fear in their lives. Some have managed to live with it, some ignore it and there are a few brave enough to acknowledge it. It is the brave who know the nameless fear and give it shape, a mind of its own and name to call it. That is the difference. While there are those who have fought countless battles against the nameless fear - calling themselves brave and courageous, they are actually no better than the cowards that choose to run from it.

It is the ones that know who or what the nameless fear is are those who are much braver than them whether they decide to face it or run from it. I make no exception when I say that. I have many nameless fears - most of which I have run away from, because I was not equipped to deal with them during that time. God only knows how long I will have to endure to wait for that time when I will be ready to face all of nameless fears. But even before that happens, I must at least give some of these nameless fears a name, a face, a date, an event, a situation and even an identity. In doing so, I hope achieve that I will have the advantage over it.

"Why do it," you may want to ask. I'll tell you why: because once you attach an identity over the nameless fear, it won't be as intangible as a ghost. It will take shape, it will have a body to inhibit and a mind of its own. Once that happens, you can now see it with your own eyes and not be afraid of something that you cannot even see. It's futile to fight something that you cannot comprehend. Why should you be scared of something you cannot see? I'd rather be scared of something that exists in this reality. At least now, you may have more chances of hitting it back than blindly striking the air.

I have named so many nameless fears and I have fought so much, lost a lot in the process, but also gained strength that I've never had. So many scars written in my eyes, my shoulders tired and my hands battle-weary - I have no time to rest when I realized that I have named of my nameless fears only recently. Again, I pick up what's left of my courage and don the armor of my spirit. I know who I'm fighting and my sword would at least be of much greater use than hitting something incorporeal.