David, thank you so much for sharing your story, and for being so transparent. Writing that would have required me to overcome fear of being judged.

There are so many ways fear can show up in our lives. Your story reminds me of how it can come out of nowhere.

When I was in my 20's I recall seeing a TV new segment about a woman being kidnapped. I remember telling my dad that I would bite, scratch and fight. I suspected I could kill my attacker with my bare hands.

Then a few years later my brother was mugged. He told me that he sort of shut down. He said that despite how you think you'll react, you never know until you are there. Two things: 1) Even if you have presence of mind, it may not be in your best interest to fight and 2) you just don't know how fear is going to impact you, potentially to the point where you can't move.

That primal part of our brains runs the show. It's all about what we define as something to be feared. I learn more every day about what I fear, and consider how I can dissolve the irrational.

Thank you David for reminding me to be compassionate with myself, because that is what I felt for you as you recounted your story.