What am I Afraid to Write About?

A post for Trust 30 … a 30-day writing challenge I’m participating in.


Today’s Prompt:

Afraid to Do by Mary Jaksch

The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson says: “Always do what you are afraid to do.” What is ‘too scary’ to write about? Try doing it now.

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My Response:

It’s too scary to write about how unsure I am of myself somedays.

It’s too scary to write about all the differences my husband and I have.

It’s too scary to write about all the questions and doubts I have about faith, God and religion.

But recently I did write about something that I was too scared to write about for a few years, so I guess I’m making progress … How Not to be a Jerk When Someone’s Life Changes

From that post … On Friday, May 20th, it was seven years since I almost lost a leg and almost died in an accident.

Sometimes when I mention what I’ve learned or when I have an opportunity based on my experience … people assume that I’m now grateful for what I went through. That I’m thankful for the torturous experience. When I dare mention otherwise … there’s two general responses.

Some responses are kind …

Some are not kind … Eyebrows are raised. I’m gently chided for wishing the accident had never happened. I’m reminded to be thankful for all things. Bible verses are quoted. I’m told that I’m a better person now. I’m told everything happens for a reason. (If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that, I could have that beach house I dream of)

I would prefer to skip the pain, the trauma, the lifestyle changes and the daily effects I live with … To read more … go to: How Not to be a Jerk When Someone’s Life Changes

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Have you ever written (or spoken) about something that scared you?


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  • http://kclanderson.com KCLAnderson (Karen)

    This post is bringing up an unexpected reaction in me: it’s not so much the subject that I am writing or speaking about that scares me, but to whom I might be speaking or writing it. There is one person in particular that I find it scary to speak or write to.

    I also find it scary (s0metimes) to express my opinion about certain subjects because I don’t like being challenged and feel that I can’t “hold my own” so to speak.

    And finally, yeah, I have written about some things that scared me…but in the end I was glad to have done it.

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Karen, I totally understand this thought … “feel that I can’t “hold my own” so to speak.”
      There’s been many times when I didn’t say or write what I’m thinking because I haven’t fully processed a train of thought, so I’m scared to bring it up … yet discussion and conversations is a great way to learn, so I hope to be able to give myself the kick in the arse I need to address whatever topics I’m thinking about. 

  • http://turquoisegates.com/ Genevieve Thul@Turquoise Gates

    Writing about my depression is very scary for me as a Christian. And the comments on those posts that make it scary are the people who tell me to pull myself up by my Biblical bootstraps and just get over it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mary.swanbell.7 Mary Swan-Bell

    Thank you. Sometimes people don’t know what to say in the face of another’s pain and suffering. Sometimes people are reticent to avoid saying something wrong or hurtful. Sometimes, in their haste to say the right thing, they say something stupid and hurtful. I wrote once about my brother’s suicide, and a well-meaning Christian friend advised me that he had gone to hell. Thanks. I am sorry about your accident. I think you are very brave.