Fear Factor

If fear were a person, I picture it being like a good buddy who puts on about a pound per month, year after year.

Now when I put on that kind of insidious weight (eating a mere 100 calories a day more than I need), it takes nearly a year before my clothes are too tight. People stop complimenting me on the old bod along the way, sure, but no one's exactly laughing behind my back, either. At least, I don't think so.

And I sure wouldn't judge a friend if it happened to her.

Like a chick whose jeans still have a little room to spare, fears start out manageable enough. When I first notice a new one, I tend to tell myself the thing I'm afraid of doing isn't something I'd want to do if I were courageous, anyway. So there.

I am a pro at making excuses for fear, for giving it the benefit of the doubt. I figure if I treat it nicely, it'll return the favor.

Besides, no responsible wife and mother with insufficient life insurance and two herniated discs in her neck would really consider bungee jumping, would she? And bungee jumping is tame compared to the extreme sports of these days.

I'm scared to death to even think about the kind of stuff they do on Fear Factor--in fact, I'm so freaked out, I won't even watch the show--but since my particular interests and inclinations don't tend toward the physically adventurous, why does it matter?

I believe it only matters if an insignificant fear (a fear of doing something you have no desire or need to do) gains a substantial amount of weight--so substantial that your emotional and spiritual health is affected.

What if a fear of driving during rush hour on the stretch of highway your friends were killed on turns into a fear of driving at any hour on any highway? What if a simple (and common) fear of MRI machines turns surreptitiously into an irrational fear of suffocating after they seal your casket?

Unfortunately, fear gains weight little by little, so slowly that its loyal friend doesn't notice until she tries to dress her fear up in something pretty for a big night out and nothing fits right anymore.

Not that it would matter much. By the time your fear puts on that much weight, you're too frightened to leave home after dark.

Posted by Katy on 08/03/05 at 01:27 PM

Fallible Comments...

Fear need not be lonely...and prayers can be widespread.

You've named your fears...remember the praying people too.

I am among them.

Michael
-----
Posted by Michael Main on 08/03/05 at 10:51 PM
Katy, wonderful writing. What a great metaphor!
Posted by violet on 08/11/05 at 04:27 PM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	Fear Factor If fear were a person, I picture it being like a good buddy who puts on about a pound per month, year after year. Now when I put on that kind of insidious weight (eating a mere 100 calories a day more than I need), it takes nearly a year before my clothes are too tight. People stop complimenting me on the old bod along the way, sure, but no one's exactly laughing behind my back, either. At least, I don't think so. And I sure wouldn't judge a friend if it happened to her. Like a chick whose jeans still have a little room to spare, fears start out manageable enough. When I first notice a new one, I tend to tell myself the thing I'm afraid of doing isn't something I'd want to do if I were courageous, anyway. So there. I am a pro at making excuses for fear, for giving it the benefit of the doubt. I figure if I treat it nicely, it'll return the favor. Besides, no responsible wife and mother with insufficient life insurance and two herniated discs in her neck would really consider bungee jumping, would she? And bungee jumping is tame compared to the extreme sports of these days. I'm scared to death to even think about the kind of stuff they do on Fear Factor--in fact, I'm so freaked out, I won't even watch the show--but since my particular interests and inclinations don't tend toward the physically adventurous, why does it matter? I believe it only matters if an insignificant fear (a fear of doing something you have no desire or need to do) gains a substantial amount of weight--so substantial that your emotional and spiritual health is affected. What if a fear of driving during rush hour on the stretch of highway your friends were killed on turns into a fear of driving at any hour on any highway? What if a simple (and common) fear of MRI machines turns surreptitiously into an irrational fear of suffocating after they seal your casket? Unfortunately, fear gains weight little by little, so slowly that its loyal friend doesn't notice until she tries to dress her fear up in something pretty for a big night out and nothing fits right anymore. Not that it would matter much. By the time your fear puts on that much weight, you're too frightened to leave home after dark. Posted by Katy on 08/03/05 at 01:27 PM Fallible Comments... Fear need not be lonely...and prayers can be widespread. You've named your fears...remember the praying people too. I am among them. Michael ----- Posted by Michael Main on 08/03/05 at 10:51 PM Katy, wonderful writing. What a great metaphor! Posted by violet on 08/11/05 at 04:27 PM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: Buying Time Previous entry: Why I Finally Purchased A China Cabinet << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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Fear Factor

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri