Under inspiration from comments to Pale Horses' "migration" thread, I thought I'd start a thread about fear.
What is/are your fear(s)?
Have you overcome a fear? How?
If not, how do you deal with your fear(s)?
Let's inspire each other to confront their worst fears. While Indy didn't get over his fear of snakes in the Well of the Souls, he sure did confront it!
Did any of you think of what Indy would do while confronting a fear?
Location: At the front row of Indy's class at Barnett College - a girl can dream! recently moved from UK and now in Pennsylvania, USA!!!
Posts: 2,207
Well, as some of you may know, I have a real fear of spiders.
A few nights ago, I was plaing Emperor's Tomb on Xbox in the front room. The lamp was on and I saw something on the floor. I then realised it was a spider. Usually, Iain gets rid of spiders for me, but he was upstairs and I really didnt want to disturb him.
Now, the spider wasn't that big, but was big to me. So, I got a huge plastic cup and put it over and then put a piece of cardboard underneath. I really didn't feel confident about picking it up so, (and this will make you laugh) I slid the cardboard and cup across the room and out into the kitchen and when I reached the garden, I then picked it up and set it down on the ground. I then picked up a broom and pushed over the cup, and the spider ran off.
Now, some of you might say, big deal, but I have had a big spider phobia for many years, and I was determined to do this myself. I'm actually considering having hypnotheraphy, because right now, I am not even able to consider picking up a spider to get it out of the house.
I have a bunch of irrational fears (phobias) and some rational ones as well.
One of the hardest to overcome was the fear of aging. Not getting older, but the midset that once you get to a certain age you have to sit around in a rocking chair and eat prunes all day. The easiest way to stop this nonsensical attitude is to challenge it by not acting older. Now my beard is turning gray and the joints ache a little more, but I have hiked higher mountains and learned to ride a horse and a multitude of other things. I can almost say I am in the best shape - both mentally & physically - of my life. I feel better anyways. Has Indy inspired any of this? No, but Harrison Ford has inspired me. Running and jumping around and rolling all over the place at his age is incredible. Most people are ready for walkers.
Another fear? Making a fool of myself in public. I finally overcame this by doing it many, many times.
Location: The Wild, Wild West (though there are places I'd rather be and a certain place I left my heart)
Posts: 492
I have been terrified of fire my whole life (at a very young age i got some serious burns on the bottoms of my feet and when I was 12 both of our family's cars were torched in our driveway and set fire to our house). I have never even lit a match. It is a completely irrational fear I need to get over, but so far, no luck.
I fear I will get a female looking Avatar and no one will know if I am a guy or a gal.. Yikes.... Coming from a culture that treats women differently, I remain constantly confused as to the gender of the folks posting here.
I also fear Steve will not show up and teach me to use bondo on my giant block... Help Steve....
Wow I am scared of heights also. You should see the Ricks web site or his pix of him climing out in the wild . I do well to hike a half mile mountain trail above the house but have afriend tht travels for miles and miles and days at a time. Still Its nothing compared to Ricks climbs.
The culture I am in is in the subculture or microcosm if you will of the "hillbilly" area of the Appalachian mountain range. We kinda sharea unique littlle understood world here where the women folk are generally respected a bit more thatn other places and where a hand shake and your word will seal a 100,000 dollar deal with out lawyers. Its unique but losing its idenity swiftly in the new generation of offspring and the age of internet.
In the end we probably are only as different as we romanticize that we are. I tend to live in dream land where the days are as they were in the tales of my Father and Mother. A simplier time when The creeks ran clear and so did the moonshine and peoples conscience. Sad such a time only exist as a one way street now.
My worst fear is ever lying to a man that wears both a belt and supenders as he will check and recheck every thing. Think about it.
I'm not generally afraid of very many things. But, here's a list:
1.) Spiders - I freak out only if I walk into their web.
2.) Heights - I'm terrified of them if higher than the roof of a house... but I also love roller coasters and things like that... probably due to the adrenaline rush involved.
3.) Parties - I'm not that big on parties. Social awkwardness? Maybe. I'm not exactly a loner, but I prefer to stay away from large get-togethers as they make me uncomfortable. A pretty irrational fear I'd say.
I've overcome a few in the past. Like I once had stage fright, but not anymore. Once was afraid to get on elevators. Afraid of getting my blood drawn, but I got over it. I can't think of anything else really. For the most part, I'll jump right into anything without being too worried or afraid or whatever.
My biggest fear was always losing everything in a fire. Then I moved to San Diego just one month before the devastating 2003 Cedar Fire. I was evacuated from my home for three days, with no word on whether or not my place was still standing. I had a long time to think about it, and realized that I was alive and my pet was okay and I had a few of my most treasured possessions, and that the rest of it really wasn't as important as I once thought. Luckily, I was very blessed, and though the fire came within a block of my apartment, it was still okay and I had a home to go back to. So I really kind of got over my fear there - trial by fire. Literally.
I also used to be terrified of getting up in front of people... so I got a job as a performer at Disney for awhile, where I could hide behind a costume, and it really pulled me out of my shell. I've become a bit of an attention whore now, but at least I have no trouble now getting up in front of people and talking and giving presentations.
Just like Indy, I have a fear of snakes A pretty irrational one too, it doesn't make a difference what kind or what size, I am reduced to a screaming little girl whenever I see one. Living in TX, I confront my fear regularly (pretty much everytime I mow the yard!). I'd like to think it has gotten better...but probably not.
I also have a moderate fear of clowns. They don't terrify me like snakes, just make me very, very uncomfortable.
Also, taxedermied animals REALLY creep me out. I can't stand to be around them and really hate going to museums that have them.
I also used to be terrified of getting up in front of people... so I got a job as a performer at Disney for awhile, where I could hide behind a costume, and it really pulled me out of my shell. I've become a bit of an attention whore now, but at least I have no trouble now getting up in front of people and talking and giving presentations.
Yeah, that's a worrisome tendency, isn't it? The sort of person I've become since I've started acting...
Incidentally, can somebody explain to me the clown thing? I've never understood it.
[quote=Canyon]Well, as some of you may know, I have a real fear of spiders.
A few nights ago, I was plaing Emperor's Tomb on Xbox in the front room. The lamp was on and I saw something on the floor. I then realised it was a spider. Usually, Iain gets rid of spiders for me, but he was upstairs and I really didnt want to disturb him.
Now, the spider wasn't that big, but was big to me. So, I got a huge plastic cup and put it over and then put a piece of cardboard underneath. I really didn't feel confident about picking it up so, (and this will make you laugh) I slid the cardboard and cup across the room and out into the kitchen and when I reached the garden, I then picked it up and set it down on the ground. I then picked up a broom and pushed over the cup, and the spider ran off.
Yeah, I have an aracnaphobia (correct spelling?) too. In fact the other day I too had to remove a spider from my house. I did the same thing only with a tuper were container and a colapsed box. YIKES!
I also have a horrendous fear of heights but I dont know why. I'm also afraid of drowning.
I also have Shavedbritinvadia; the fear of finding Britney Spears in my room at night.
Yeah, that's a worrisome tendency, isn't it? The sort of person I've become since I've started acting...
Incidentally, can somebody explain to me the clown thing? I've never understood it.
A long time ago I read the following quote by silent film star and makeup artist Lon Chaney:
"A clown is funny in the circus ring, but what would be the normal reaction to opening a door at midnight and finding the same clown standing there in the moonlight?"
Years later, when I learned about the crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacey and saw the photos of him dressed as a clown, I remembered that quote and felt a chill run down my spine...
What's behind the makeup-- not only physically, but emotionally? It's analagous to wondering what lies beneath the socially acceptable "masks" we all wear. I think that, for some people, a clown brings those normally submerged questions uncomfortably to the surface.
"What Lies Beneath," of course, is also the title of a Harrison Ford film that helps illustrate this idea.
