I fear something different

A friend just told me tonight:

“LN, I’m not even going to tell you to ‘be careful’. You are more than prepared. Besides, what are you going to be careful of? The things that you fear are not the same as what your mother fears or what us common-folk fear. Go have fun and just enjoy yourself. You don’t need to be careful.”

(or something to that effect).

And it’s true! I remember talking to my roommate about Israel. He admitted to never wanting to go there. I asked him why. He said something along the lines of “spies and wars” and stuff. I told him he was silly- that there is so much history and things to see! Things to experience!

A few nights ago I was at my local bar, enjoying a beer, watching some football and a guy sits next to me. We get to talking and my upcoming trip comes up (as it always does because, hello! I’m excited about it!). He said “wow. what countries are you going to?”

I start to list off some.

“Guatemala, Belize, Panama, Colombia”

“OH MAN! Be careful! those are some dangerous places!”

“Sir, no offense, but if I were a navy seal would you tell me the same thing? Would your reaction be the same?”

“not at all”

“why not?”

“Because they are prepared for everything.”

“What makes you think I haven’t been preparing myself for the past year?”

He flushed and someone scored a touch-down at that moment which was a nice segue into something else.

But anyway, I like lists… so let’s make one:

Things I’m scared of:

1) commitments. (like signing a 6-month lease. Basically the thought of being locked in somewhere with no option of getting out/leaving whenever I want. The same thing could be said about a full-time job or anything that requires me to be somewhere day-in/day-out.

2) having regrets

3) snakes

4) SAT/ACT tests. (ok. not really…. but I really don’t like tests. Especially anything with math.)

Things that “normal” people are afraid of:

1) bad people with guns

2) falling long distances

3) enclosed spaces (tight places)

4) watching loved-ones-die.

5) heights

What are YOU afraid of?