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PapaJohnQ -> RE: fear? (2/28/2009 8:59:16 PM)
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Fear is one of the most important spices we have in life. After 30 years of marriage I asked my wife, mother of two highly creative and talented children, why she was afraid of me. We went through it using a rational analytical approach. I asked her if I had ever hurt her. "No!" was her answer. I asked her if I had ever threatened her. (In my youth I was 6'2", and 285 lbs of gorilla, now I am 6' and 385 lbs of gorilla.) "No!" was her answer, she being 5'2" and 150 lbs of balled fury. I asked her if I ever lost my temper with her. "Often," she said. "Does it frighten you?" I asked. "Hardly," she answered. "You are a cream puff" she said. "Then why are you frightened of me?" I asked her. "Because," she said, "if you ever do lose your temper, it must be terrifying. I have seen you put your fist through doors just for fun. What would happen if you turned mean." I laughed and said, "You mean like you did when you terrified the whole general's headquarters just because you were shy and went around walking very quickly, and not speaking to anyone?" How could we exist without fear? If not imposed on us against our will, we create it to give our lives that added extra bit of spice. We need that shot of adrenalin to give us that kick that makes life worth while. "Here, take me, do with me what you will!" is merely an excuse for us to let ourselves scare us silly playing the game "what if" he she or it really did the things which I can imagine he, she, or it could really do. Fear is not terror. Terror is a mind chilling paralyzing emotion which turns the victim into a deranged mindless creature, neither living nor existing. Terror is reality. It is the reality which persons being eaten by bears may experience or the anticipation which one about to be destroyed by an approaching train may experience or the student who is faced with an exam he, she, or it knows will lead to failure, ridicule, and rejection. Fear is a lovely thing, I suppose. I have been accused of not knowing it. Fact is I am not smart enough to recognize situations when I should have it. Later when I wake up in the hospital, I can't remember what happened. You just can't teach an old dog new tricks.
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