Olympic heptathlete Chari Hawkins opens up about what it really feels like to keep going when everything falls apart. What begins as a reflection on Chari’s career unfolds into something much more vulnerable—her struggles with identity, the quiet devastation of missing the Olympic team, and a moment where she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep going at all. Together, we explore fear, failure, and the small, brave decisions that shape a life. Our Dear Sugar letter this week touches on what it means to start before you feel ready, reminding us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s learning how to live alongside it.