Face the Fear: Lessons from the Yard 🧤

Fear shows up in funny ways. Sometimes it’s a big, obvious thing — like change, heartbreak, or public speaking. And sometimes it’s something small and unexpected... like realizing there’s a dead something in your yard and you’re the only one available to deal with it.

It’s in those moments you can’t outsource the ick factor — no neighbor, no helpful dad, no magical animal control fairy. Just you, a pair of gloves, and your inner pep talk that sounds something like, “Okay… I can do this. Probably.”

The Power of the “Probably”

Here’s the thing — fear isn’t always about the act itself. It’s about the story we tell ourselves before the act. We imagine the worst: smells, sights, and the what-ifs. But when we finally face it, the reality is rarely as bad as the imagination.

That moment of doing the hard or gross thing anyway? That’s growth. That’s where the “probably” turns into “I did.”

The Confidence Ripple

Once you conquer one uncomfortable thing, even something small, you start to notice the ripple effect. Suddenly, you’re braver in other places too — sending that email, setting that boundary, or finally cleaning out that terrifying junk drawer.

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it just quietly says, “Grab the gloves.”

Closing Thought

You don’t have to love every challenge you face. You just have to remind yourself that fear is a feeling, not a stop sign. Every time you face something that makes you squirm a little, you’re proving to yourself — again — that you can handle it.

And maybe next time, you won’t need the gloves. (But, you know… bring them just in case.)