Monday, April 23, 2012


T is for Trepidation

This feeling settles down on my mind and connects my fingertips with the keyboard, in a peculiar manner. The trembling wings of a butterfly as it alights on a flower. A feeling that shakes and shivers, a quiver that runs down the spine.
No fear, yet no lack of it. No panic yet a spot of nervousness.
A slight increase of heart rate. Short, shallow breaths.
Maybe apprehension is a necessity, for sometimes without a nudge from good ole adrenaline, one’s feet are leaden.
I know this feeling. It has been my shadow at every important juncture of my life. At all events, from all the examinations to all the public talks, at the moment of “yes” and the one at “I do”. 
Yes, I know this feeling.

When I think of trepidation, I remember 'trepidation of the spheres' (used in an entirely different connotation) from A Valediction by John Donne. It's not related, but I love it, so I’ll quote it anyway:

Moving of the earth brings harms and fears,
Men reckon what it did and meant;
But trepidation of the spheres,
Though greater far, is innocent
.

9 comments:

  1. Yes. Trepidation does capture the feeling when you sit down to write. Excitement and anticipation combined with the fear of failing. Blog on!

    http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com

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    1. heheh! good one, Francene, sometime it does that to me too! Thanks for visiting!

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  2. Wonderful. One of my favorite words, too.

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  3. Beautiful post! Thank you for commenting on my blog so that I could find yours!

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  4. I thought you would write something on the subject of "tea". You are unconventional, dear S. Loved the post.

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  5. Maybe apprehension is a necessity, for sometimes without a nudge from good ole adrenaline, one’s feet are leaden.

    So beautifully said!

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  6. Trepidition, excitement, apprehension and panic - all related to good ole adrenaline!

    Great post!

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