People often wonder, “Aren’t you scared?” Especially as a lone female, they intone. I wonder, in return, what is there to be scared of? The elements can be fierce, and in the face of storms and high winds, all one can do is keep one’s head on straight: remember to pull over or wait it out if you can when things get out of control, always wear a life vest, use the full spray skirt to keep from getting swamped in rough seas. Animals are another potential worry, though I have always loved the company of animals over people any day. I’m half kidding. Of course one should be prepared to fend off a bear (mace), hide one’s food from marauding raccoons, deal with biting insects, and so on, but the benefits are that I get to listen to owls and crickets at night, I get to enjoy cicadas all day long, and watch eagles soaring and hunting. I see the occasional otter or beaver, and all sorts of bird life. The largely unspoken fear is that I’ll be murdered or raped. Clearly, those would be unfortunate demises. But I rarely think of them and this is why: I figure I’m just as likely (probably more likely) to deal with the same scenario in a place where a vicious human has access to watching my patterns, AKA my home. More than that, these scenarios are statistically unlikely, and I’m not interested in clouding my brain with unneccessary worries. I took a self-defense class before I left, which was empowering and illuminating (thanks Patty!) Because people mention it so often, I have thought about it, and conclude that if I end up dead, well, at least I will have lived well. If I end up raped, well, that would suck, but at least I’m still alive and can keep on going on.
This morning I was thinking about the question, “What AM I scared of?” I had a nightmare that reminded me that the three biggest fears in my life (my parents getting divorced, being cheated on, and my house burning down) are all things I’ve experienced and lived through. It sucks living through a nightmare. But on the other side is the rest of your life. And nightmares are rarely personal attacks. It’s usually the issues of another person that cause them to arise. As long as you are living your life the way you believe is the best way to live it, then even nightmares can’t bring you down. They may shake your core, but they provide the opportunity to prove one’s fortitude. “Character building,” they call it.
I see so many people living their lives based on fear. I don’t understand the mentality. Ever since I was a kid and my parents sold their house and bought an old sailboat and took my sister and I sailing for a year, I’ve heard people say, “I wish I could do that” in regards to living a life that involves significant exploration and living outside the norm. When I ask people what’s keeping them from quitting their jobs and going off to explore, it becomes clear that money is a huge deciding factor. Or, more precisely, the notion of safety and comfort. What people don’t often realize is that it’s a decision they have made. Simply, their priority is semblance of safety net over living the life they dream of. In a conversation with Leanne, another paddler, who pointed out, "What's the opposite of Fear? It's Faith. It's about control. If someone doesn't have control, they can either chose to fear the unknown, or they can have faith in the unknown."
Where are you on the spectrum? What do you fear? What would happen if you let go of control and had faith in things working out instead of fearing the possible outcomes? How would your life change?
This morning I was thinking about the question, “What AM I scared of?” I had a nightmare that reminded me that the three biggest fears in my life (my parents getting divorced, being cheated on, and my house burning down) are all things I’ve experienced and lived through. It sucks living through a nightmare. But on the other side is the rest of your life. And nightmares are rarely personal attacks. It’s usually the issues of another person that cause them to arise. As long as you are living your life the way you believe is the best way to live it, then even nightmares can’t bring you down. They may shake your core, but they provide the opportunity to prove one’s fortitude. “Character building,” they call it.
I see so many people living their lives based on fear. I don’t understand the mentality. Ever since I was a kid and my parents sold their house and bought an old sailboat and took my sister and I sailing for a year, I’ve heard people say, “I wish I could do that” in regards to living a life that involves significant exploration and living outside the norm. When I ask people what’s keeping them from quitting their jobs and going off to explore, it becomes clear that money is a huge deciding factor. Or, more precisely, the notion of safety and comfort. What people don’t often realize is that it’s a decision they have made. Simply, their priority is semblance of safety net over living the life they dream of. In a conversation with Leanne, another paddler, who pointed out, "What's the opposite of Fear? It's Faith. It's about control. If someone doesn't have control, they can either chose to fear the unknown, or they can have faith in the unknown."
Where are you on the spectrum? What do you fear? What would happen if you let go of control and had faith in things working out instead of fearing the possible outcomes? How would your life change?
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