Here Be Dragons
Yar, fantasy pirate dwarves! All the gold!
So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!
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Here Be Dragons
Dragons, ya’ll!
So, dragons—the real kind, the ones that don’t need wings and scales to be real. They don’t need fire-breathing skills to ruin your day.
These dragons? They’re the ugly, twisted things that crawl up from the deep parts of your mind, especially when life throws you a punch to the gut.
Ever since humans started spinning stories, they’ve been telling tales of dragons. You get them in ancient China(TIANLONG!), Norse mythology (FAFNIR!), even in the deserts where folks didn’t have a single lake to dunk their feet in, but somehow they had dragons.
Why? Because even back then, people knew there were forces inside and outside that were damn near impossible to wrangle. You could call them fears, or sins, or even just plain old trouble—whatever you label them, they’re heavy, mean, and most folks are terrified of them. It’s easier to look at your fear if you give it some shape. That’s where dragons come in.
Dragon-shaped fears are the worst. We goofed when we made THAT decision.
Now, let’s not pretend these dragons are just metaphorical—no one lies awake at night worrying about a lion they saw on TV, but we’ve all got worries, haven’t we? Real, gnawing fears that cling to your ribs, keep you up at night, and give you that gut-wrenching feeling right when you thought you’d finally found some peace.
Those dragons are real as rain (which I have verified to be real, despite all the pushback). They’re every doubt you ever had about yourself, every regret you’re ashamed to admit, every time you’ve looked in the mirror and thought, “Am I really cut out for this?”
Here’s the thing, though (well, one thing of many…). Once you know these dragons are there, and I mean really know it, like you’d bet your paycheck on it, you’ve already got an edge. Because acknowledging these creatures means you can stop pretending life’s a breeze, stop running every time something big and scary shows up in the shadows.
See, that’s what dragons hate most. They want you cowed, hiding, convinced they’re too big to fight. The second you square up and say, “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got,” you’re already halfway to winning.
Imagine this: life, my friends, is a journey through a wild, dark forest, and there are dragons in every corner. Some will be the kind you expect—say, bills piling up when the money isn’t there, or the boss breathing down your neck about a job you’d love to chuck out the window if you could.
Other dragons? They’ll be the sneaky kind. They’ll look like the friend who’s no good for you, the decision you’ve been avoiding, or the anger you’ve been holding in for too long.
Yes, THAT decision. It probably led to THAT anger. You dragon hoarder…
But if you know there are dragons, you’re ready. You know not to get too comfortable, too secure, or too sure that nothing’s lying in wait to bite. Because life—real life—isn’t about lounging around in a perfect little bubble where nothing bad can happen.
Life requires CONFLICT! (GO GET IT, KID! Get rowdy!)
Show up to the fight, over and over, knowing full well that sometimes you’ll lose. It’s about learning how to handle the scars, the mistakes, and the messes without breaking apart.
The old stories about knights and dragons are onto something—no one goes out and slays a dragon without armor, a sword, and a hell of a lot of guts (also guns). And you know what? No one slays a dragon by themselves, either.
Even the mightiest heroes had someone backing them up, watching their back, keeping their spirits up. If life’s a battle against dragons, the people you love and trust are your armor.
Your friends, family, even that cranky old neighbor who reminds you to put your trash out—these are the ones who make life bearable when you’re neck-deep in dragon territory.
Look, I get it. Some folks will tell you it’s weak to admit you’re scared, to lean on others, or to take a rest now and then. They’ll say the strong thing to do is go it alone, keep your chin up, and not let the world know what’s really going on under the surface.
Fu… Forget them, anyways…
But here’s where they’re dead wrong: admitting you have dragons, showing those scars, and reaching out for help when the going gets tough—that’s real strength. Anyone can puff up their chest and pretend nothing scares them, but it takes guts to say, “Hey, I’m a little scared here.”
And that’s the next piece. Dragons may be real, but they’re also a part of you. They’re the fear that keeps you from doing something stupid, the doubt that makes you double-check your choices, and sometimes, they’re even the fire that lights your way when all other lights have gone out.
Them’s the good dragons.
When you face down your own dragons, you’re really facing down yourself—the side of you that wants to throw in the towel, to give in to comfort, to sit back and let life roll you over. That’s what these stories get at: to beat the dragon, you’ve got to face the parts of yourself that don’t want to be a hero, that want things to be easy and soft and safe.
But the truth is, life isn’t safe, and that’s a damn good thing. It’s the scrapes, the tumbles, and the tough stuff that make us stronger. Every dragon you face down makes you a bit tougher, a bit wiser, and a lot more aware of what you’re capable of. You can’t learn resilience in a padded room, and you sure won’t grow if all you do is avoid the pain.
Think of it like this. You’re forging yourself in the fires of your own struggles. Every time you get knocked down and stand back up, every time you make it through a rough patch without giving in to the temptation to run—you’re building yourself up. The same way a blacksmith takes a raw piece of metal and shapes it through heat and hammer, you’re turning yourself into someone strong enough to face whatever comes.
Will I ever stop using that example?
No.
So next time you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, and that little voice inside says, “This is too much; I can’t handle it,” I want you to remember this: that’s just another dragon trying to scare you off.
Square your shoulders, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you’re made of tougher stuff than you might believe. Also, leap little froggy, rub some funk on it, get down with your bad self. All those weird things your Dad says.
You’re tough. You’ve got the scars to prove it, and you’ve got the strength to keep going. Because every day you face down your dragons, no matter how small or how sneaky, you’re doing something most people are too scared to even attempt.
Dragons exist. They’re real, and they’re waiting for you at every turn. But they’re not unbeatable. They’re not even always as big as they seem. Sometimes, they’re just shadows cast by things you haven’t had the courage to face.
Other times, they’re genuinely terrifying, and it’s okay to admit that. But whatever the case, they can be beaten. You can beat them, one at a time, scar by scar, breath by breath.
And one last thing: don’t ever be ashamed of the battles you’ve fought, the scars you’ve earned, or the dragons you’ve had to face. Those marks? They’re proof you didn’t quit.
They’re badges you wear under the surface, showing the world you’re not some fragile thing that breaks at the first sign of trouble (which you’re fuggin’ not. I don’t know who the hell told you that you were, but they can go eat a brick.). You’re a warrior, a fighter, a stubborn, gritty soul who’d rather get knocked down a thousand times than let fear win even once.
Dragons are real, and life wouldn’t be worth living without them. So keep your sword sharp, your heart strong, and remember that you’re not alone in the fight. We’re all facing dragons, every single day, and together, we’re stronger than they’ll ever be.
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