I got an email today that I was accepted into a mentorship program and for the beginning of 2022 I am going to be mentored by another writer. I should be really excited and I am, but at the same time, every part of my brain lit up and my anxiety started to rise. I didn’t realize it at first, but I think the reason is because I am going to be sharing my writing with someone new.
It is a strange fear for a writer to be worried about sharing her writing to other people. After all, the point of writing is to have other people read it. The problem is that my writing feels like a little part of me. It is difficult to take that a give it to the world to do with what they want. Especially during this time of social media when everyone with a computer or phone can post their opinion about anything.
Yet, I think maybe I need to see this situation as an opportunity to embrace life. God commands that I love others as I would love myself. The only way to truly love is to experience and know others as well as myself. My whole life has been about maintaining a degree of safety and control because I was taught to be afraid of the world. Now, as a writer, I have the opportunity to put a part of myself into the world without control and safety. I can either run from the opportunity or I can face the anxiety and embrace it. Who knows what will happen. Maybe I will learn more about myself and the world than I ever could expect. Whatever happens God will be with me and I’ll be alright.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
