“What is your greatest fear”

I’ve been asked that more times than I can count in school prompts and in topics on forum. What is my greatest fear you ask? Glad you asked ;)

It would be so easy..so simple to say that my greatest fear is dogs or something of that nature (and don’t get me wrong, and I am very much afraid of dogs). But, as you may have figured out by now, I am not simple.

I would say that my great fears are people and fear itself.

Can a dog shoot you? Can a plane deceive you? Can heights bully and assault you? I didn’t think so. But, a human can. (Let’s pretend that I believe in Christianity and other religions that follow this for the moment being, just so I can use this line) Gods greatest creation, isn’t always so great. Don’t get me wrong, humans are amazing. Or bodies are specifically designed for us. If we didn’t have legs we couldn’t walk or get food. If we didn’t have arms we couldn’t prepare food. If we didn’t have eye brows then our eyes would get damaged because sweat would run into them. If we didn’t have hair in our nose then we could get disease and other not-fun chiz. But that’s off-topic (which, I admit is not unusual in my writing). Humans are  magnificent but also are terrible monsters. (The following sentence is written from A Christians point of view) Humans were born with sin ever since Eve ate the apple God said not to in the garden. (/end Christian point of view) We murder. We deceive. We steal. We gossip. We hurt. We are lazy. We are humans. I am in complete and total awe of humans, yet they are also my (if not one of the top) worst fear.

I also fear fear itself. Why? Because, look at someone on steroids. I’m not a steroids specialist, but I know that certain kinds make you strong and well, not afraid. That person who isn’t afraid will have the courage to do anything. Think of how much we could do if we had the courage to? I could go out and buy 50 lottery tickets. Will I win them all? Will I get the jackpot? Our minds tell us “No way! Someone else will most certainly get it..”.. But that someone could be you. If I had the courage to I would go out and buy some lottery tickets without fear of losing. That’s a really bad example now that I think about it. It could just be common sense telling you you won’t win. Here’s a better example; you could call that college that has the best writing lessons in the state, but you’re afraid you’ll get rejected so you never send an application to them. Yeah, that sounds about right for an example.

How do I try to overcome fears? I don’t.

I used to be dead afraid of dogs. Like any kind at all, no matter the size or breed. Then, one day I realized this; We’re all just going to die one day eventually, whether we choose to accept that or not, whether we want it or not. It’s not being pessimistic or depressed or anything to think that, it’s being realistic. If you waste your time being afraid of what might happen if you do something, then end up not doing things you could be because of fears..you’ll just end up looking back at things and wishing you had done them then. One day you won’t be able to do those things. I think if I don’t go down this street because of a dog who could be out at the time and take an extra five minutes to get to my destination, then that’s five minutes of my oh so short life I’m wasting because of something that could possibly happen, but isn’t certain to, and most likely isn’t really a threat.

I think I’ll tattoo that on my back.

There is a difference between being fearless and being reckless though. If a sign on the entrance to a place you’ve never been says “Warning: DO NOT ENTER. CRAZY CANNIBALS AHEAD.” it would be stupid for you to go in. If you said “Meh, I’m not afraid, I’ll go through. cannibals can’t touch me.” You’re reckless, not fearless. You’re stupid, not fearless. There is a difference, although it may be hard to see at times.

Guter Kauf für heute ;)