I often think about how we respond to fear with either a fight, flight, or freeze response.

I can immediately identify when I go in freeze mode. My heart drops. My breath gets caught. My chest constricts. My jaw clenches.

I pass a Baylor Scott & White…freeze. I see a post about cancer recurrence…freeze. I find a picture from my treatment days…freeze.

I’m learning two big steps on how to crack the ice.

1. Breathe
2. Think on warm things

I notice a pattern in symptoms…freeze. Breathe. Read a text that makes me smile.

I get a notification in my health portal…freeze. Breathe. Look at pictures with my friends that make me smile.

I see an ultrasound scheduled on my calendar…freeze. Breathe. Snuggle Ginny and pick out a favorite movie.

You thaw ice with warmth. I can chip away at the frozen parts of me by nourishing the thoughts that make my heart warm; each good thought like the strike of a match in snow.