The Doctor said "I have determined that your problem is from the neck up", I laughed in response and said, "nobody that knows me will argue with that diagnosis". The final diagnosis proved to be a dissected carotid artery that would heal with no side effects in 90 days from the date of occurrence. Although, for six weeks in 2014, I was coming to terms with the initial diagnosis of an extremely aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis or ALS and facing a short-term painful death. At the same time, along with millions around the world, I poured a bucket of ice water over my head to raise money for the ALS cause, however, I expected to do it again with the announcement that I had the disease. I have a strong faith, so the thought of death wasn't terrifying but I was not looking forward to the dying process or the impact to my family. I started to have discussions and make preparations for the end game and get my projected date of death. I lived with this realization for six weeks. As it turned out, the blood tests were erroneous and I would be fine. Receiving this correct diagnosis scared me more than the original diagnosis. For six weeks, my life had crystal clear focus, all I had to do was to love my family and plan my last days. But now, assuming a bus didn't clip me crossing the street or some form of cancer didn't take me out; it was reasonable to assume that I would live to a ripe old age of 88 or beyond. That meant I was just given 44 years of life and I was only at the mid-point. I didn't have to do the childhood again, so I could have a 20-year career doing good work, not just once, but twice before pushing up daisies. People receive fateful news every day and would gladly trade everything they have to be in my shoes. I don't concern myself about the method of the end but I know I don't want to be one of the masses that Thoreau writes about living "lives of quiet desperation". We must set aside the things that scare us and be far more concerned about living a life of noisy inspiration, so let's make some noise together!
The top fears in America are public speaking, heights, snakes and drowning; how can you relate? What is a step you can take to challenge your fears? What opportunities are you passing up because of fear? What would be the upside of overcoming your fears?