Fear of Falling

At certain times, especially now, it feels like the world is

falling…

…falling apart.

I panic.

Then. I remember.

Some of my best memories are falling…

…rain—a steady, summer Georgia storm;

that multi-colored parachute game we played in grade school;

the sheets falling on top of me as my parents made the bed;

trying to catch leaves falling from the trees, summer’s last play before winter sets in.

Everything around me falling.

And when the leaves and chutes and summer rain fell,

so to fell my burdens.

If only for a moment, I felt relieved.

Alive.

Could the joy of falling be greater than the fear?