Everyone has fears. They range from Ablutophobia (fear of bathing) to Zuigerphobia (fear of vacuum cleaners) and everything in between.
For some, it’s flying and for others, it’s spiders. Whateve the case, we all fall prey to a fear or two that sends chills up our spines and raises the hair on our arms. In studying the list on the computer, maybe my favorite is phobophobia, which is a fear of phobias.
I’m not a psychologist, so I don’t know what to make of that one.
As I try to pilot my life to be as healthy, productive, and mentally and physically fit as possible, I fear losing myself—my memories and my knowing the people in my life that I love.
Each week when I visit the man I volunteer for in the assisted living facility, he shares stories of some of the people he eats with and how so many have dementia or Alzheimer’s. This always shakes me to the core. But what it also does is remind me, loud and clear, not to take anything for granted and to appreciate each moment.
We don’t have any guarantee (other than that our last breath will occur at some point), so we’d better not let the opportunity of living with love, gratitude, and purpose slip past us.
I try to use my fear to prompt me to be more present and engaged…..while I have the gift to do so.
