Don’t let fear make you become a pussy.

I hate superheros. Mostly because my boyfriend likes them, though I tell myself it’s because they’re stupid and create an unrealistic idea of a saviour – ironic because I love Star Wars. But, much to my disappointment, it has become apparent that superheros are not totally stupid…Batman at least.

So, why is batman suddenly not totally stupid? Because he is human, because he is average (minus the fact he is a kajillionaire) and because I happen to see the happiness he brought to a tiny bed-bound child in hospital.

Now I don’t go in hospitals. Ever. I hate them. They hate me. We have a mutual agreement to pretend neither of us exist and go about our lives without coming into contact with each other. However, when my boyfriend’s appendix decided it wanted to replicate Hiroshima in his body, I went against every Fear-ridden bone in my body to go and visit him.

Since the passing of my beautiful mother (let’s not dwell that, thanks), hospitals have been one of the only things that genuinely fill me with uncontrollable fear. The thought of going to one forms a stone in my throat, boils my blood and makes it almost impossible to breathe. First my hands and knees begin to shake, then my whole body joins the party. Before you know it, I am a fear rave and everyone is invited. Only instead of dancing and wearing fluoro fluffies, we Panic! At the Disco Hospital and wear some sweaty nerves. Yet in the past week I have visited the hospital twice and there is no way I would have survived without Batman. Sure, it broke my heart but it didn’t break me.

Walking through the ward on my second visit, heart pumping iron like the gym junkie in bed 47 who looked like he’d had one-too-many protein shakes, I happened to peer into a cubical that had its curtain open. In this cubicle was a man, asleep despite the overly-loud phone conversation in the cubical next to him, and a little boy. The boy couldn’t have been more than six and was watching patiently as his father slept, hands gripping the side of the bed.

I couldn’t help but smile upon noticing that he was dressed head to toe in a Batman costume. He was being his Dad’s superhero – bound to his bed, not out of fear but out of absolute adoration and love. Something about his innocence gave me strength; if this little Batman could be brave enough to endure the hospital then surely I could overcome my own fears.

   And that’s exactly it: fear.

Everyone has fears. Fear is a part of life. But fears are meant to be conquered. Fear and strength are directly related; they allow us to become stronger by conquering them. Having fears doesn’t make us weak. Fears invite us to be strong.

There will always be things in life that scare us. We will all come face-to-face with death and loss at some point in our life, though these occurrences shouldn’t be something we fear. Instead, they should be something that we learn to conquer and deal with. But how do we deal with them?

1. However the heck you want to deal with them.

2. That’s it.

3. There’s nothing else to it.

4. You’re welcome.

It took me years to get the courage to even go near a hospital, let alone go in one. If you need to take a few years to come to terms with fear then that’s okay. But if you want to jump straight into the deep ocean of your fears and ride its waves as soon as possible, that’s cool too. Do what you need to do.

Everyone is individual and different. As a result, something that Bob down the street does to conquer his fears may not work for you. Don’t let that get to you. Don’t let fear make you feel weak. Fear is normal. Take your time. Deal with it how you need to. It’s okay.

Don’t let fear define who you are. Don’t let fear make you become a pussy. Chill out – it’s not a bomb. Instead, be that little Batman and let fear make you strong.