The first time I remember coming across the word dilemma was back when we were doing Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Tom had a ‘moral dilemma’. Well, I am not having a moral dilemma, just a personal one - a choice that exists to be made.

Some of the choices we face in life are difficult, others not so much. Some force us to look deep within ourselves and admit things we would prefer to hide. Others help us discover things we didn’t know. When faced with a choice, do we go with the option that presents a small challenge merely because the experience is unfamiliar, drawn to it by the thrill of learning new skills and discovering new strengths within ourselves? Or do we go with the alternative, which in this case presents an even larger challenge, not just because of the unfamiliar nature of the territory but because of the fear that holds us back, which has itself prevented such a venture in the past?

It seems almost a silly question because when we advise others we say “face your fears”. I too have offered this counsel in the past, but when we the ‘all-knowing’ advisors are faced with a similar prospect, we now realize and understand the paralysis that strikes. Where do we find the strength to take that first step, which from our perspective will take us into an impenetrable dark beyond?

For me the decision has practically been made for myself because I know I will feel as if I have failed myself if I pass up an opportunity to conquer such a fear. I spend my life striving to better myself every chance I get and here is a chance to do something brave (as trivial as it may seem). If I survive it (which I am sure I will), the important thing will not be whether I do well or not. Instead I will be able to look back and say I did it, I did it knowing how terrified I was, knowing that in all likelihood I might fail at it. In the end I will come out of it with more strength than I had going in, with more knowledge than I had before, and essentially, more me.