“Staring Down the Lane”

“Staring Down the Lane”

This morning, I walked through a quiet neighborhood in Oshkosh with hot water in my hand and a fire in my spirit. As the sun rose and the birds flew overhead, I thought about Bella Love. She’s got her first Advancers round today at Junior Gold, and while the stakes might seem high, the truth is deeper: she’s doing what she loves.

And with that love often comes fear.

Fear of not performing. Fear of messing up. Fear of falling short. But here’s what I reminded myself this morning: the wolf is fear—and leaders stare it down. That’s what Staring Down the Wolf teaches us. And that’s what Bella is doing.

She’s not just bowling today.

She’s choosing to step into the moment, into her gift, into her training, and into her joy. She’s not chasing perfection—she’s living aligned. That’s where her power is.

What I hope Bella remembers today—and what I’m reminding myself—is this:

You don’t conquer fear by eliminating it. You conquer fear by moving through it with love, clarity, and truth.

So to Bella Love:

Be centered.

Be clear.

And let your joy be the loudest voice in the room.

This morning reminded me of this: Fear may bark, but it only rules when you listen. Today, we listen to love.