I will go boldly into that unknown

[miladycarol]

“All we have to fear is fear itself.”

What has happened to this notion? Once upon a time, FDR’s words stirred a nation to boldly go forth for the greater good, but the pendulum has swung in completely the opposite direction now.

I was thinking today about our fear level. Everything around us is geared to keep us fearful. Even through my heavy fortifications against media propaganda, messages of fear leak through and sit staring at me from shadowy corners. I don’t subscribe to a newspaper, I don’t have tv reception, and I am careful where I read my news on the Internet, but still, external sources try to whisper over-the-top cautionary phrases as I conduct my daily affairs.

I was raised to be cautious and have good judgment. I tend to weigh the facts before kicking in doors and stepping into the unknown, so I am not reckless by nature. Still, it seems that some would have us cower with our backs against the walls of the hallway rather than attempt to try any of the doors lining it. If I lived my life by listening to my fears, I wouldn’t want to leave the house. I’d be afraid that I’d slip on some wet leaves and hurt myself or that someone would nab me in the night and do unpleasant things to me. I can’t live like that. Not for a minute. If I did, I’d never experience the beauty of standing at the top of a mountain, I’d never ride my bike home from a friend’s house after dark and experience the amazing quiet of the night and smell that particular odour that only seems to happen when the dew is just beginning to form. There’s nothing like it and I wouldn’t know it if I were too afraid to get out there and exist.

I’m tired of people trying to warn me against having adventures. Sure, I’ve had accidents, I’ve been injured, and I’ve eaten foods that really didn’t agree with me, but that doesn’t dampen the overall joy that I experienced. Regardless of having Montezuma’s Revenge in Cozumel, I had an amazing time and remember it with great fondness.

Live and learn! That’s a much better attitude than the live in fear message bombarding us every moment of every day.

I make the following promises to myself:

- I will not quietly sneak and quake my way through my days.

- I will not allow the notion that there could be someone waiting around that dark corner to do me harm prevent me from walking past it. I will take reasonable precautions and I will be aware of my surroundings, but I will not carry a gun, I will not encourage people to have chips implanted that track our movements, I will not be convinced that everyone is out to get me in this country, in any country on this planet or from any planet in this universe. I will take care of myself and I will watch out for the community around me.

- I will eat the produce from my local farms because I cannot live in fear that they will have been careless or intentionally poisoned my food.

- I will not be told that I don’t care about my country because I choose not to listen to popular opinion polls and national news. I care just as much, if not more. I simply am thoughtful and I take the credibility of the source into consideration.

- I will not allow fear of being seen as a threat to national security stop me from baking delicious cookies and putting them in the mailbox as a treat for the postal worker that has been daily bringing me mail for years. I will continue to be shocked and appalled every time someone tries to tell me that this simple act of kindness could possibly be construed as anything malicious.

Embrace life! Embrace people! Talk to strangers! Keep an open mind, for one never knows when someone is waiting to drop something beautiful into it.

Comments

[indiecowboy.livejournal.com]

"A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing"

Your last line reminded me of that. I tend to refrain from embracing people...strangers...and for me it works. I have no energy to establish intensive and new relationships. Plus people irritate me lately. I USED to not be like that. I still embrace...but carefully.

Different strokes I guess.

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

Actually, I didn't mean embrace strangers. I said embrace people. That means the ones you are drawn to embrace. I simply meant don't preclude the possibility that wanting to give someone a hug would be a dangerous thing. If your mind, body and soul all feel comfortable with it, then hug that person. Don't allow fear to stop you. I would hope that fear would ever stop you from hugging me if you wanted to do so.

The strangers part is talking. As long as the environment is safe and there isn't that nagging feeling of "run" in the back of one's mind, then say hello to a stranger. They could tell us something amazing and we shouldn't allow xenophobia to overpower our ability to communicate and live our lives.

[indiecowboy.livejournal.com]

I would always hug you!

And you're braver than me...I don't talk to anyone really. I have this new social phobia thing...FUN!

But you...you are always just amazing...your strenght, courage and integrity are AWESOME!

[lurkitty.livejournal.com]

I am so terribly guilty of shuttering myself up in my house, though not theough fear of any bogeyman, but fear of rejection.

I see all this national security threat business as red herrings. Keeping people afraid is a way to keep control over them. If people stay in their houses they're not making trouble.

Good for you!

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

I have a rejection-free zone, here. Well, except for cinnamon. I totally reject cinnamon. Cinnamon is eeevil to me. Cinnamon can just take its business elsewhere. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Cinnamon! I see you! *snubs cinnamon with great satisfaction*

I'm not hungry for red herring, thanks. I don't care how good it tastes with melted butter sauce and lemon. I am still using my civil liberties, thank you very much. I'm not ready to turn them in yet.

[biomekanic.livejournal.com]

::rubs cinnamon on his body because he can::

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

You're just nasty. Nasty. That's all there is to it.

[karinablack.livejournal.com]

It is sad that could be construed as malicious- you can't even bring treats to kids' classes anymore. They have to be store bought.

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

Oh, and those store bought treats are sooooo healthy. *grimace* All those highly processed ingredients and chemicals. Mmmm... tasty. *makes yuck face* I grind my own flour, for goodness sakes! I put fresh organic fruits into my cookies! I stir love and intention into everything I do and somehow I'm the bad person. I weep for us.