Yann Martel

Seminar #2) Yann Martel Seminar

A) Inspired by an excerpt from part two, chapter 56 of The Life of Pi
(The last sentence of this emulation was taken from a fellow CWR friend, Carmen.)

I must say a word about fear. It is life’s most universal emotion and chooses no specific targets. It can live on the faces of those going about in their daily lives, or breed and consume someone from the inside out, leaving them and their values shaken and shattered. Often, it can be seen as an instinctive reaction to a life-threatening situation. The adrenaline, the pumping of our hearts, the perspiration on our skin; the reactions stay the same, but for reasons that cannot be defined. Reasons that are fluid and are influenced by one’s environment. Reasons that spread across the world and is streamed onto our devices. Reasons for which have a beginning, but has not come to an end.

There are many reasons to fear. Fear of others who are unknown, fear of new situations, it does not matter for fear strikes at your weakest moments. Rips you to shreds from the paranoia and narrowed perspective you yourself have chosen to unknowingly embrace. Shackles you to your insecurities and intimidates you by the fear of judgment and shame. Keeps you on your knees even if you want it to stop.

But you can’t avoid it. For that is a sign that you have lost and fear has won. For your weakness is your strength. For mistakes are what enhances your existence on this planet. For the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

If only we had the courage to understand that fear is but a fleeting shadow not worthy of being outrun.

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