everything-a-phobe.

They say that the number one fear among people is public speaking. In my case, I love public speaking, but am terrified of pretty much everything else. Especially anything that can lead to my ultimate demise (which is the number two most popular fear among people). So, for your quick reference, in case you want to invite me to go bungee jumping into a pool of spiders in the dark with Freddie Krugar (RSVP: hell no), I'm scared of:

1) my feet being more than two feet off of the ground.
2) anything with more than 6 legs and/or 2 eyes.
3) the dark.
4) horror movies.
5) diseases, germs, getting sick, hospitals, death.
6) the ocean. large bodies of water. rushing rivers.
7) small spaces.
8) bridges.
9) throwing up. [me or anyone around me].
10) childbirth.
11) horses, dogs, and birds.
12) [now that I'm suddenly developing allergies] food.

I understand how so very, very sad this is. Its even harder to admit. These things aren't just stuff I prefer to avoid. These are things that get my heart beating fast, my palms sweaty, my stomach aching...almost to the point of number 9.

So, what am I gonna do about it? Face 'em. And I'm proud to say I can mark a few of them off of my list. For the ones I can't "face" (like the sicknesses and such) I try and stand up to. I psych myself in by saying "it's for a million dollars". Of course, it isn't, but for some reason I'll do anything for fictional money. This technique came in handy thrice last week. Once when I was scaling a mountain with friends, once when they pressured me into sliding down a waterfall into a (cold-ass) river, and once when I found myself in a golf course bathroom occupied by the worlds entire spider population [and a bladder full of pre-golfing beer].

Slowly, I've been becoming friends with planes. back in '08 I conquered my first solo flight.  Last year I flew to the bahamas. This July I flew across the atlantic ocean. I honestly didn't sleep for weeks leading up to that trip, but I did it. Twice, in fact. Words cannot express how incredibly proud of myself I am. And that's just a plain awesome feeling.