Greatest fears that never came true.

[kayakjohnny]

Me?

Thought my eyesight was fading in the late seventies. It helped inspire me to take a very long backpack journey, thinking that I'd better see what I can, while I can. Guess what? Never went blind.

Always thought I would die at 35 years old. Thought it since I was 15. I was in Costa Rica, driving on crazy roads, ripped, with crazy people in the hours leading up to 35th birthday. Those minutes on the way to midnight were sketchy. Guess what, I'm 53 now.

Thought I might get killed in the ocean in huge surf. That one could still happen. But so far, everything is cool. I go out there almost daily and I have it somewhat under control. But always a wild card. Guess what? Been surfing for 23 years with hardly a glitch.

Road trips. Have taken so many of them, and always thought I'd get caught off guard and get clipped hard by a truck or something. Or just end up in a bad situation that would take me out. Guess what? One flat tire in all the traveling since 1977. No wrecks and not even a traffic ticket.

International travel. That's a big one because I was never sure that I knew enough about the details of travel in strange places. But I figured I would live by my wits and make the best of it. Guess what? Never a real problem.

Girlfriend's boyfriends. I got into a few dicey triangles back in the late 80's and thought I could get taken out by a jealous boyfriend. Or two. Guess what? Things just kind of blew over. I'm still here.

Sometimes, I think the fear of something is actually worse than the imagined event itself.

Anyway, just wondering about other folks. Is this something we all go through? Or do most people just not worry and think everything will work itself out?

Cheers.

[Brickbat]

1. The older I get, the more I've learned to let it go. I think the biggest worry I've had lately was

the two pregnancies I've had. Nine months is a long time to worry and hope that things are going to be OK. I find myself now worrying about my children's futures, but it's a waste of energy.