what scares you?
August 27, 2007I’ve been doing some good journaling lately. Lots of lists seem to be popping up in the pages (one of my favorite ways to journal!). Lists like — fun things to do, things to see, places I’d like to visit, collaboration ideas, etc. But one list in particular has me thinking: “Things that scare me.”
And I have a few things on it, but I keep thinking of more and writing those too. Some are relatively non-scary scary things like: having a dinner party with a weird mix of people (will they all talk? hate each other? feel uncomfortable? will I know what to say?). This isn’t too scary, because no matter how badly it goes, it’s still over by midnight-ish, and you can go to bed and realize it was a huge mistake and you’ll never make it again. (can you tell how open I am to this idea? hee)
And I’ve already tackled one thing on my list: go to a yoga class. That scared me for a long time, but now I go each week and it’s one of the things I most look forward to. I crave it and love it.
Also on the list was zip-lining (otherwise known as canopy touring). Basically it’s where you strap yourself in this harness contraption (very sexy) and hook up to a wire in the top of a tree that leads to another tree top a few football fields away. And then you say your prayers and jump off and zip from tree top to tree top. (gulp)
Well this weekend I did it! I told Colin I’d go and just look at it. And he put no pressure on me to do it. He said he’d be okay if I just watched (thank you dearest). But I decided to just go for it — even though the people running said it wasn’t certified yet and it was free because they weren’t licensed. (Um, couldn’t you have just failed to mention that?!) I decided that the risk was worth it and I’d feel worse going home having chickened out. And I’m so glad I did because it was fun! I screamed and just flew through the air like a monkey! Fast and smooth… like flying without wings. It was great. :)
Here’s proof:
Taking that small risk made me feel more confident. Like I can maybe stop being such a wuss about things… even if they go terribly (the dinner party thing), it can’t be THAT bad. So I think I’ll start doing a few more things off this list… the dancing class. holy crap… why did I even say that???
So - what would be on your “things that scare me” list? Are there a couple of “safer” ones you could test out and see how it goes?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
just wondering how freckle nose kitty is doing…
August 28th, 2007 at 4:34 am
kitty is doing much better, thank you. Home now and eating again. So we are in the clear. :)
August 28th, 2007 at 5:38 am
In January I ziplined on the North Shore of Kuaui. Thought I was going to pee in my pants. I wasn’t the first one to go, but I made myself be the third. It felt good to force myself to do it before I could talk myself out of it.
My next big cha cha with my fears is re-learning some basic French and learning to be comfortable with swimming again. The fear circulating around learning French is that I won’t be able to do it, and that would pose a problem because we’re moving to France in April. I don’t know when or where that fear of swimming developed. I can paddle around in the water just fine, but it’s putting my face in the water like you do for Freestyle laps that has turned into something alarming.
These are small feats where the risk level is wholly self-imposed. That alone makes doing them more desirable and important.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:25 am
Any public outing with my in-laws, and re-entering the workforce.
You made the zip-line look easy.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:56 am
I would love to do a canopy tour. I did abseiling and it seemed VERY scary but seemed OK once you managed to climb over that edge!
Dancing classes…not so scary once you realize that 30% of the regular people there are twice your age :o)
What scares me really is a downhill bike ride when the road is windy and has a sharp cliff right next to it!
And socializing with adults.
August 28th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Congrats on your bravery.
I’m not sure what my scares-me list would look like, but I’ll be sitting through a long plane ride tomorrow–plenty of time to journal and find out.
Such a simple idea, yet I wouldn’t have thought to do it if I hadn’t read it on your blog. So thanks!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Scary list: I’m deathly afraid of heights, so I’d like to go sky diving and go on that ride at the Stratosphere in Vegas (more than likely I won’t)
:-)
Safe list: Experiment with my art. (though it is a touch scary)
August 28th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Great scream, Pen! I’ve done that before and it’s a blast. Good for you for taking it on and facing your fear/anxiety!
August 28th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Failure.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Oh, And Death.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:33 am
oooh glad you zipped! it’s fun, frightening and exhilarating all at the same time!
nice scream by the way!!!!
afraid of …
heights in buildings (not nature)
action/horror movies
deep ocean water.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I loved the video!hee hee hee hee sounds like what my brain was doing on the kayak fiasco!!!! update the other gal has black eyes and a cracked rib!!!!!! things I am afraid of? talking in front of a group of people…..
August 29th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Jerry Seinfeld: “I read a thing that actually says that speaking in front of a crowd is considered the *number one* fear of the average person. I found that amazing - number *two* was *death!* Number two!
That means to the average person if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
Woody Allen: “I’m not afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
Me personally, I’m only scared of two things: dentists and regret. That’s all that’s ever hurt me so far.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Take the dance classes!! My husband and I are on the way out to do that tonight! Swing dancing is so much fun and now when we go to parties, weddings, etc… the dance floor is our favorite place to be (unless they’re playing rap music- we can’t dance to that!). Nice job on the zip wire.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:01 am
That video was a hoot! Way to go! It looks like you had a blast doing it. And was that Colin shouting out encouraging words?
What am I afraid to do…scuba diving. Yeah, I know, millions of people do it every year but I’m a big chicken when it comes to strapping on a tank and submerging myself into dark water. I’ll attempt it one day. First I need to start by opening my eyes when I’m under the shower - hee!
August 30th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Susanna - yeah, that was me there at the end, but the majority of the “Don’t Brake!”s were from the woman on the upper platform.
August 31st, 2007 at 10:54 am
Hey Penny! I’ve been wanting to do this for years- but we don’t have one here. The one I want to do is in British Columbia… it is over 2 hours long! Now that is a worthwhile ride!
Zip Trek Eco Tour
Guided tours include five incredible zipline rides that gain progressively in height and length with the longest spanning over 1100ft. The ziplines are joined by a network of ground based boardwalks and trails, and by aerial stairways and bridges at heights of over eighty feet in the tree canopy. Experience an incredible 2.5 hour journey as you ride on a series of cables and suspension bridges, and explore the hidden beauty of Fitzsimmons Creek and the picturesque forest valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Tour Length Tour Time Tour Price
2.5 hours daily year round
Adult: $98
August 31st, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Do the dance class! It was my biggest fear, but also one of my biggest dreams. It was so hard, so humiliating, so challenging…and so AWESOME! I felt like Superwoman when I got some little part down! Plus my abs and butt were tighter and higher than when I started the class! Thanks for your entry…it’s got me thinking of some fears I need to face head on. Love your blog…always an inspiration.
September 5th, 2007 at 5:30 am
I almost went ziplining once, but chickened out at the last moment. I cryed, wasted my money and had to walk down alone in the jungle. But I don’t regret it. I guess there are terrible scary things you have to take yourselve through and some, like this, that if you choose to skip it, it’s OK to forgive yourself.
Then again I’m a wimp, I’ll take this as inspiration.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Flying always scares me a little bit. It is so true, though, no matter what it is, pushing through those fears and doing whatever you fear ANYWAY is an amazing thing. Whenever I need a boost in the self-confidence department, I always go to those times when I did something that felt brave.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:08 am
good for you, penny!!!
i love how you captured it on video. i love ziplining. i think it looks scary but isn’t. you don’t feel a drop so much as a whooooosh!