Addressing FEAR: Installment 2/3

The week before Christmas break, I was driving the country route home from Guelph to Toronto with my camera on the passenger seat at the ready to stop and photograph the magnificent country side on this windy, snowy day.  Without a nanosecond of warning, I became engulfed in blowing snow - a complete white-out. FEAR rose from my groin, through my belly and eclipsed my mind.  I couldn't stop for fear of being hit from behind, I reduced my speed to 30 km, so that if I did hit a car in front, it wouldn't be fatal. I considered the greater likelihood of being hit head-on because I didn't know where my single lane began and ended. I pushed FEAR down and out, telling myself in my loud voice, that I would drive with instinct. I actually said those words: I can do this: I will drive with instinct. I brought my car as far onto the shoulder as I dared - remembering that I had four feet or so before the land sloped down to the ditch. I simply drove straight ahead knowing that eventually I would drive out of this white-out just as I had driven into it. In that moment, a great white tractor trailer came hurtling from the opposite direction - very much in my lane! It zoomed by me in a great swoosh of force and blowing snow. I drove on and out of the white-out. A huge smile on my face. [Read installment 3/3 now]

Tomorrow I will share a story about how thinking about FEAR taught me a wonderful lesson about preparedness – a lesson that has payed dividends!

How have you responded to FEAR?