Maybe my fear is inordinate? A fear so deep I can feel it in my bones. If they could shake in fear I think they’d rattle. My fear being between my logical side & the illogical fearful side, a battle. What is there in the light is the same as is there in the dark, or so parents the world over tell their children who fear the night. But is it true , true of the woods, where animals lurk, surely not lions & tigers & bears, well, maybe bears. But not bears like grizzly’s or man killing polar bears. Black bears or brown bears can be as vicious depending on the circumstance. Either way, whatever does exist in the dark of the woods, be they logical, illogical or just plain out of my nightmares, I still dislike the woods at night.
Since my childhood I’ve struggled with this fear. Now in my mid-fifties and still I suffer from this fear. An old oak tree, its branches bristling in the wind. Dead leaves shuffling along the ground making a movement sound. So many books read & movies watched, what lurks in the darkened wood is what nightmares are of made.
As a kid, I walked in the dark and always whistled. A theme song from one of two movies I always loved. It kept my mind off what “goes bump in the night”, kept me the least bit sane, not totally unafraid, but less so than normal. Normal, now that’s a laugh, what is normal for one is insanity for another. Is my fear normal? Or am I just insane, or living between normalcy & insanity, skirting the edges of both. Fearing what isn’t there while accepting that it quite actually is there. Am I over-analyzing or worse yet over-believing in the dark side of the WOODS?
Most of us have fears that we try to keep to ourselves and only occasionally rear their heads in public. It is healthy to have fears and to realize and acceept that which we fear is only logical.
The best way to conquer fear, is to face it head on, Bro. When I get my wilderness compound finished, come up to the great northwood. You and I will rough it for a week, sleeping out under the stars, and listening to the wondrous nocturnal sounds of the forest. And if we're lucky, the timber wolves will howl for us in the moonlight, and a few old black bears will visit our campsite for some fish.
And there where Ma's money went? PeeWee was right, you ain't no one with fears, just a Ma's spoiled brat! ain't see no tigers in Jersey and you no middle fifties, more like seventies with a face plastic job!
ED - IN 1963 our Psychology Professor told us not to self-diagnose when we read chapter 1 -
a thin line between 'normal' and 'abnormal' - and we all cross it occasionally!
Franklin D. Roosevelt said: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself!"
Teddy Roosevelt said: "Walk softly and carry a big stick!"
I SAY: "Pretend you are Irish, and buy a SHILLELAGH" TK.
Lions and tigers and bears, Oh MY! Chilling pen, Ed, and like Karen: if I have nightmares, I'm blamin' you. :) Got it?!? LOL Actually, not afraid of the dark. Unless it storms. THEN I mind. Karen REALLY minds: "MAKE IT STAWWWWWWP," she screams at me (like *I* have any control of the weather?!?). LOL GREAT job here.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Snuggle with Rufuz, he'll keep you safe.
And OMG, if a lightning bug gets in the house ... AHHHHHHH!! *gasp gasp gasp* Karen goes BALLISTIC. Have to turn on the light and find that bastard and let it outside so she can sleep. LOL
Oh, boy, can I relate to this one, Ed! I'm nearly fifty, and when it comes to the dark, I'm like a big, fat baby! I have to have a LIGHT on to sleep! No kiddin'! Fear well justified, and I feel for you, 'cause I have that same fear, too! Didn't like being in the woods at night; I didn't want to run into a bear or BigFoot! GAD!! LOL If I have nightmares tonight.....I'm blamin' YEW!! Very well penned!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your (phobic) Texas friend, Karen Lynn. :/
