But when wrestling with fear today, I squared my shoulders and said to nothing in particular, “This year is the year I rise above fear.” It’s a simple statement with no real meaning other than it helped me remember that in 2018 I proved to myself that love sooths fear.

For many who endure a sexless relationship, sex is harder than the alternative. It’s not an oasis of connection, an escape from the pressures of life, an intimate getaway for those precious 30 minutes.