So there are two main kinds of fears: Rational ones and Pathological ones. Rational fears are things like being afraid that the lion running toward you with his rabid spit foaming through all those sharp fangs just might, you know, want to eat you. Pathological fears are things like, well, being afraid of raisins.
The thing is, to a person with Pathological fears, all his fears are completely rational. (Have you ever seen a kid with a raisin stuck up his nose? It’s totally scary.)
Experts on this* say that a person with pathological fears should face those fears, confront them, and (theoretically) come out on top.
Becca, you ask, why are you telling us this?
Well, because I’m about to face my fear. The fear of sliding down a steep mountain slope in uncomfortable and ugly shoes while strapped to a slick board or two. That’s right, friends. I’m going skiing.
On a mountain. Wearing skis. In the snow.
Is anyone else shuddering?
Husband tries to keep his sense of humor about this. But we’re a little different, Husband and me. He grew up in Utah, skiing his winters into oblivion. He loves to ski, and it comes as naturally to him as, well, swimming in a dirty lake comes to me. And if roles were switched, and we were heading to a summer vacation at some midwestern pond, that might be a little tricky for Mr. Hand Sanitizer to handle. But we are doing it. Skiing. Tomorrow. At the world-class Deer Valley resort in Park City. (Yeah, I know. Big deal. But it IS! — think of raisins.)
My adorable friend Heidi, a fantastic ski instructor (from what she tells me), will take me to, and I quote, “Kiddieland” for a morning of lessons. She will use all her mad Teacher skills to whip me into perfect ski shape. Then after an overpriced cheeseburger and a steaming mug of what better be very good hot chocolate, I’ll hit the hill with Husband, at which point Heidi and her equally adorable husband will use all their mad Politeness skills not to laugh out loud.
Do I really have to tell you what could go wrong?
I didn’t think so. Because now it’s time to Think Positive. To Face my Fears. To strap on the skis and go out with my boots on. Wait, maybe not that last one.
(What are you afraid of?)**
*As far as I know without doing any actual research. Because research cuts into my precious blog-post writing time. So just take my word for it, m’Kay?
**Heidi is afraid of writing something someone else will read. I didn’t laugh at her. That’s a totally rational fear.
(8) Comments for this blog
Oh my. We share the same fear. My heart is pounding for you. Good luck with aaaalllll that.
Also, I fear jelly fish. They’re just wrong.
Oh my. We share the same fear. My heart is pounding for you. Good luck with aaaalllll that.
Also, I fear jelly fish. They’re just wrong.
I’m irrationally afraid of the dark. And yet I love the dark. I’m very messed up.
I don’t blame you for being afraid of skiing. I broke my tailbone by skiing. Wait. That probably doesn’t help, right?
I’m irrationally afraid of the dark. And yet I love the dark. I’m very messed up.
I don’t blame you for being afraid of skiing. I broke my tailbone by skiing. Wait. That probably doesn’t help, right?
I’m scared of it too. Sometimes (okay, often) having a vivid imagination works to our detriment, eh?
I’m scared of it too. Sometimes (okay, often) having a vivid imagination works to our detriment, eh?
I have an irrational pathological fear of getting bitten in the…uh…hind quarters by a dog. I wish I was kidding. Along with that, I can’t imagine what I’d do if I actually saw an alligator (why didn’t they die out with the dinosaurs?). I fear them too. My teenagers, the mess in the kitchen, are both fear-worthy, but these things I can handle.
I have an irrational pathological fear of getting bitten in the…uh…hind quarters by a dog. I wish I was kidding. Along with that, I can’t imagine what I’d do if I actually saw an alligator (why didn’t they die out with the dinosaurs?). I fear them too. My teenagers, the mess in the kitchen, are both fear-worthy, but these things I can handle.