“If you don’t do the thing you fear, then fear controls your life.”
I was a freshman in high school walking to school by myself. A rock came whizzing by my head. I looked back and it was the Taska brothers – all three of them. Two older than me, all taller; jackasses alone, emboldened together.
I kept walking, a little faster now. Another rock came by. Then one hit me in the back. If I ran, I’d have to face them again in the future.
I stopped. I turned around with my fight face on, ready for whatever might happen. They closed the gap on me. I stood my ground and stared them in. When they got to me, they walked around, mumbling tough guy noises.
That was that. I never had to deal with them again.
This was one of my favorite Think Daily’s that you have ever written. I had a similar experience. I was a little younger and stood up to a group of bullies. I was outnumbered and got beat up pretty good. But guess what. They never bothered me again because why risk it when a guy fights back. Bullies will always find an easy target. It’s one of those life lessons that was true 50 years ago, it’s true today and it will be true 50 years from now.