Fear...and stuff

Hi all!!!

I just had dinner with two of my best girlfriends at Carrabba's Italian Restaurant; the crusted chicken parmesan was awesome as were the two Coronas. Anyway, the topic of "Fear" came up and it made me wonder, what exactly is, FEAR?

How and why did this topic come up?

Well, I, like most human beings with an ounce of common sense, have numerous fears--some more debilitating than others. One of which is the fear of flying. I made a comment at dinner that I wanted to vacation in Paris and Italy this year. Anyway, one of my friends brought it to my attention that the flight is over nine hours (hasn’t been verified, but will). That little bit of knowledge brought me up short and I immediately began to rework my plans to vacation some place closer to home (preferably within driving distance). When I realized what I was subconsciously doing, there was no way to avoid admitting that because of "Fear," I'm missing out on a hell-of-a lot of life.

For instance, I've wanted to travel to Japan for more than half of my adult life, but even when I have the funds to support such an adventure, I'm too much of a fraidy-cat to get on the plane. (Because, you know it would be just my luck that the plane would crash.) I've also been talking about driving across country and back. I think about it at least once a day and yet, the thought of climbing into my car, starting my engine and pulling out my driveway with just my dog, a bag of clothing and my ATM card, scares me stiff.

Why?

Well because CSI, SVU, Criminal Minds, ID, True TV and a host of other shows, like the aforementioned, have me petrified that my bones will be found in a ditch, 5 years after I vanish off the face of the planet. (Stay close to home and you’ll live longer.)

So is this fear rational or irrational? Am I just paranoid?

These questions bring me back to my initial question, "What is fear?"

• Per the Oxford dictionary it's an unpleasant sensation caused by nearness of danger or pain.

• Per Webster’s' dictionary it's to have a reverential awe of , to be afraid of: expect with alarm , to be afraid or apprehensive.

• Per dictionary.com it's a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

I don't know about you, but what I feel when I experience "fear" isn't really defined above. For me, fear is unaccomplished goals, dreams undiscovered, lost chances at love, and the hands that keep me stagnant.

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to add another goal to my New Year's resolution: I'm not going to allow fear to keep me from living anymore. I’m going to go where I want to go (taking baby steps), do what I want to do and with whom I want to do it, and I’m going to enjoy myself, because you know what they say, “You only get one life”.

So my faithful 17, what are some of your fears and how has fear changed your life?