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I know some people believe in conquering your fears, and if your fear is debilitating or keeping you from activities you want to do, then I agree. However, fear in some cases is healthy and at certain levels, reasonable. It keeps us from doing things like running head-long into oncoming traffic. It keeps us from winning a Darwin Award. Where is the line?
My boyfriend asked me if I wanted to go cliff jumping. Pretty sure he was being sarcastic because he knows I’m terrified of falling. I can jump off the high dive into a pool, but it takes quite a bit out of me to do it and the platform board is out of the question. He asked me why I wouldn’t want to go cliff diving and since telling him I’m acrophobic has gotten me nowhere I told him that people can die like that. He asked where I heard that and I told him about a 1000 Ways to Die episode where… let’s just say the guy landed wrong and water went somewhere it shouldn’t. As a female, there are two such places.
Boyfriend told me I need to stop watching the show, that I’m letting horror stories hold me back from living, but even without watching the show, I wouldn’t want to cliff jump. I don’t want to sky dive, and I don’t want to bungee jump. I’m completely happy riding roller coasters for my adrenaline rush thank you very much. I don’t feel like it’s holding me back because if I want to do something, I do it.
-Eliabeth Hawthorne
What about you? Is fear rational or is it holding you back?
Ermilia 
I think it can go both ways for me… Rational fear keeps me from doing some stupid stuff. Irrational fear keeps me from trying some amazing adventures. 🙂
What fears do you have that are holding you back and what would you do if you didn’t have those fears?
I didn’t want to do cliff diving. Even if you’re an expert diver you hit the water hard. Besides, water is a powerful force of nature than can move boulders in your way n stuff. That’s not my idea of fun.
I’m petrified of heights and falling, but I love adrenaline, so skydiving and cable-jumping were as awesome as anything I’ve ever done. Zip-lining is pretty cool too. I love roller-coasters.
Exactly. I’ll use that explanation the next time Boyfriend asks me why I’m against cliff diving. I’ve never broken a bone, toes excluded. I don’t feel like that’s a requirement to live a full life, but it seems like to some people it is.
I’m with you on the whole cliff diving *shiver* but I don’t do roller coasters either. I don’t like that tickling feeling in my gut and have a terrible fear it would go horribly wrong like in Final Destination 3, although that is not where the fear originated. I’ve always been afraid of heights and roller coasters. My mom said I would cry just standing up in my crib. lol.
Afraid I haven’t seen Final Destination, much less the third one. I’m going to use your crib example the next time my mom makes fun of me for being afraid of ladders. 😀
lol go right ahead 😉
Well I was once dating a younger guy, he was 22 I was 32 and he wanted to go bungee jumping. I liked him alot, wink wink, so even though I was really afraid I did it. And I loved it! What a rush. Of course it was at a park, over a big net. But I did jump with the cord hooked to my ankles and not my waist. Which popped my back in and that felt great too.
I pay attention to what I’m afraid of today. Make sure that I’m not tricking myself into believing I don’t want to do things that I am afraid to try.I want to live my life to the fullest!
It’s great when life works out like that. I’m very happy to stand on the ground and take pictures of my boyfriend partaking in those activities. Thanks for commenting! I also liked that you said you pay attention to what you’re afraid of and analyze it. I think it’s important to be aware and analyze because things are constantly changing!
Yes, they sure are. Everyday in fact for me!
Thanks so much for the short thoughtful conversation. One of my favorite things!