2 . I’d just gotten out of hospital myself. Five days after my mother________ , a tire of my car blew. I was going 50mph when I completely lost ________: my car________ head—on into a concrete barrier. I should have been ________ but fortunately I survived. Physically I healed quickly, but the________ injuries and fear of my own death stayed on. Soon even________ activities, like driving a car or visiting my doctor, filled me with great fear. Eventually I fell into a state of________and stopped seeing friends. I even didn’t want to go anywhere and feel anything.

Then, last February, I was invited by my friends to go________in Colorado. My first response was to________. I didn’t want to get on a plane, attach sticks ________ my feet or slide down a mountain. The mere thought of meeting new people________me. But I had a sense that this journey might be the brilliant sunlight I________needed. I finally agreed.

The first day, I was________with Peter, an experienced coach. He sensed my fear, patiently removing it with a smile and jokes. I was absolutely terrified of ________myself, but his gentle encouragement kept me going. Then he said something that made me nod in recognition, “Jill, fear________everything.” Peter was talking about skiing, about how your muscles ________when you are afraid, often causing you to fall. And it’s particularly true in life as well. When you permit fear to ________you from doing what you love, life stops. With Peter’s words in mind, I kept practicing.

By the end of the day, I’d improved enough to fly down hills that had ________me, a bright smile on my face and tears in my eyes. Tears were not from the cold but from________. I’d faced my fears on the mountain, and I knew________the rest wouldn’t be far behind.