I think that many people don't realize that fear is a kind of demon.
Not making other people afraid. Your own fear.
My fear is definitely my demon. I'm not a mean person, it's just not in me; but I can be a cowardly one. And my cowardice probably hurts more people than any other flaw of mine.
I don't approach people, because I can't stand the thought of rejection - or even awkwardness. I don't return calls, because I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing. I don't take risks - or I take them, but leave the follow-up steps hanging when I realize that real life is scarier than the ideals that led me to try in the first place.
I hate my fear with a passion, but I can't always see it, and so it haunts me, binding me without me even realizing it.
Sometimes fear can be a beautiful thing - it can warn us and protect us, and when you embrace your fear, when you can tame it and overcome it, you feel... human, truly human. Or maybe human isn't the word. You feel awake. Like destiny isn't a sea that washes over you, but the thing upon which you sail, something that you use to direct yourself.
But it's awfully hard to get there. Sometimes you don't even know what it is you're afraid of...
I suppose the cure for fear is to face it, but fear is a subtle thing which hides, and the battle can be exhausting.
I would want to live longer...