Sunday, March 24, 2013

There is no passion so contagious as that of fear~Michel de Montaigne

I once had a friend tell me that fear is like an elevator. Picture this. You are waiting for the elevator to come and when it does you must decide whether to get on, or stay outside it. Say you decide to get on and then find that this elevator only goes up. Once you have reached about the 100th floor, you find it is extremely difficult to get off. You do not know what is on the 100th floor, all you know is that you are safe in this elevator. Then you just continue going up and up until their is nothing left for you. Just you and your elevator.

When something fearful comes we decide whether to get on the fear elevator, or to take a risk and try something we have never done before. If we do choose to ride the elevator of fear, and cave into its pressure, we find it can be easier to be fearful. We get in our comfort zone so our fear and apprehensions just continue to go higher; we are left with our fear controlling our lives.

My advice to you? GET OFF THE STINKING ELEVATOR!

In the immortal words of Shawn Spencer, tell the elevator to "Suck it!" There is no room for fear in life, unless it is the kind of fear that moves one to action. If it is fear that assists you in remaining stagnant, don't do it.

Trust me, I speak from experience. It took me until just recently to see that I was letting fear control my life. I was letting my past experiences control my present and found myself having these horribly stupid and irrational melt downs because I was afraid that if I took that risk I was contemplating I was going to find myself in a ditch somewhere, in the fetal position, crying for my mom. Yeah sometimes my thoughts spiral out of control a bit, I am working on that one. But here's the thing. Half the things you imagine in your head don't really happen. Yep, its a tough fact to realize but its true. My mom has been telling me whenever I contemplate a risk, the worst thing that can happen is a no. Yeah there is always the chance that you may fail, but failing can be a wonderful thing. Most of the times I have failed I learned something valuable I wouldn't have otherwise.

Newsflash #2: You are not alone! Once again I am a little bit of the stoic type. I think that I can deal with all of my problems on my own, don't tell anyone what is going on, and then next thing I know the problem has become a million times bigger than it was in the first place. If anyone has ever read Elbert's Bad Word, its like that little black scribble as it becomes bigger and bigger (if you haven't read Elbert's Bad Word, you better, its pretty hilarious. And Taryn, you better be laughing at that one ;) ). But I was talking to my dad recently and he reminded me that its better to face your fear with someone by your side. They make the risk less terrifying.

I am not saying I have suddenly become this all knowing fear oracle. Heck I know I am not going to confront the Easter Bunny anytime soon (he is still scary ump-teen years later). But take that risk your contemplating. Don't let fear make you miss anymore amazing opportunities. I am trying to not do it myself. Its tough. I won't lie. But I do think the reward will be better than the loss :)

Oooo Lets do this to our elevator! Might as well make it entertaining!
Bahahaha

I watch too much America's Funniest Home Videos...

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Inner Workings of My Mind are an Enigma

I think way too much. Ask my mom, it is both my blessing and my curse. How do you know when I am thinking? As a kid you would see my "wandering tongue." As I thought, my tongue would stick out and I would lick my lips creating this red, slobber fest all over my lips and chin. Sad thing? I never even noticed tell my brother or sister would tease me saying, "There she goes again! Don't mess up that concentration!" Thank heavens I modified that to be less...disgusting as an adult. My tongue may still move, but its now within the confines of my own mouth where it should be.
(For you Bro)

As a thinker, I discover a lot about myself both good and bad. For example, I have discovered many stupid human tricks like my reflexes in my third and fourth fingers on my left hand being connected. That'a a fun one to show people. Or at work I discovered that cool whip tastes surprisingly like marshmallows...seriously try it next time. So this will be about thoughts I have funny, serious, deep, very not deep. Hopefully you enjoy, if not, I guess don't read it! But just for the heck of it, I thought I would post something deep for ya.

Perceptions

So I work in the produce department of a grocery store cutting fruit and making dips. Sounds thrilling right? At least I can make a mean batch of salsa! But that also mean I inadvertently smell like salsa just about every other...which sadly also smells like B.O. But when I cut fruit I noticed something interesting. Sometimes the ugliest fruit is the most delicious! Like I was cutting up honeydew and I called my boss over and showed him how this honeydew was green and a little on the slimy side and he told me to taste it. I told him he was out off his mind, but then found out it was delicious!

My point in all of this? Don't judge by appearance. I know we have heard this a million times over, but it is something that I think every one needs a little reminder here and there. You may be missing out on a lot of amazing relationships based on your first impression of someone. Example? One of my closest friends (also the one who asked me to start writing a blog) when she first met me thought I was going to be a total snob, and then when she got to know me, in her words she realized "I was as big of a dork as she was." And we became fast friends. So next time you pass judgement on someone after 5 seconds consider this. Some of the most unappealing exteriors, can have the most beautiful interiors.


This picture and the following clip is from the movie Hans Christian Andersen. He is singing the story of the ugly duckling to a little boy with cancer. The other kids were teasing him for being bald, so he tries to cheer him up with this story :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMKxnYRhk6I

Sorry one more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbFiB7oiQs4