Abi's World

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble – Psalm 46:1

Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears – Rudyard Kipling

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Those of you who have been followers of this blog for a long time (thank you!), may recall my previous post about this four letter word. If not, check it out here: That 4 letter word… (And it’s not the one you think).

Six years later, and unnecessary fear can still rear its ugly head, and try to grasp me in its slimy, yet strong, hands. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.

When the Covid 19 vaccine was first announced and available, I was adamant I would never be one to take it. I have a huge fear of needles – it’s called trypanophobia apparently – and no disease or pandemic could force me to have an injection. I had avoided blood tests and needles for the last decade or so, and I wasn’t going to have a needle jabbed in me now. I know it may sound crazy to some people, but fear is real, even the irrational kind.

But as months passed, I realised that in order to stop me ending up with multiple needles in a hospital bed, and also to protect those around me, I would need to get the Covid 19 vaccines…and I was petrified.

After a lot of interrogating other people who had been vaccinated, a lot of worry, and a lot of prayer, I decided to be brave and get jabbed. And yes, it did hurt, I’m not going to lie to you, but I survived. Not only did I survive, but as usual, I realised that the fear and anxiety of it all took more of a toll on my body than the actual prick of the needle did.

I write this to you with a painful arm, but with a weight lifted from my shoulders.

Sometimes, living in fear of what might be, causes more stress than actually facing what we fear. Is there something that you need to do, that you’re avoiding because you’re afraid? It could be the potentially life-saving vaccine, it could be going after your dreams, it could be taking the first step of a bigger journey. Whatever it may be, shut the door on fear, have faith, and go for it. There’s not a lot that’s more debilitating than living life halfway due to fear.

That doesn’t mean that I am going to be unafraid as my second vaccination date approaches, but I will be fearless; I will overcome that feeling of fear and do the thing I am afraid of. I hope you will too.

With Love, Abi X

P.S. If you, like me, are afraid of injections; I played music, took my mum along with me, closed my eyes and focused on literally anything else. I hope this helps…you can do it! X