Have you ever experienced something unknown and beforehand, you fretted and worried about...and then afterward - you could've kicked yourself for worrying about it?  That was me.  That was soooo me.  

Today I was sitting here contemplating things I used to be afraid of…

- flying

- big cities

- the riding lawn mower

- swimming in the ocean

- bats

- walking across bridges (loooong bridges – i.e. the Mackinaw Bridge)

It’s funny, as I read over this list…some of the things that I was formerly afraid of I now love.  I love to fly.  I remember the first time I flew, it was scary.  VERY scary.  I didn’t know how to navigate an airport and I was flying out Newark International Airport.  Had I not been adventuresome, I would never know what a joy air travel could be.  I have now flown so many times that if I were to list them all…it would lead to a lengthy blog post and then I would reminisce about each trip…thus making the post longer and longer.  Just know this – I LOVE TO FLY!!!! 

Big cities used to make my heart fluttery-nervous.  Perhaps this is why the Lord directed me to move to Rockford…and had I not been willing to embrace the big city – or atleast the notion that the big city was “ok” – I would have missed out all of life that has happened since I moved to the big city in 2002.  Wow…I will have lived here for 10 years in August.  It’s funny how quickly time flies by (and it seems to go quicker the older I get).  I’m no longer afraid of big cities.  I, even, enjoy going in to Chicago for a day or two. 

Did you read the 3^rd item on my list and think that perhaps I had bumped my head?  I haven’t.  Tis true – I used to be afraid of the riding lawn mower…WHEN I WAS 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD!!!!  Long before I ever had the opportunity to help with yard work, the mower scared me.  It was loud.  About my 16^th birthday, I was taught how to operate said equipment and now, I actually don’t mind doing yard work.  Of course, now I rent which does not afford me the opportunity to do yardwork (as in mowing)…but I don’t mind mowing. 

The ocean.  It’s soooo big and vast and I always feel so small standing beside it.  Whenever we would go to the beach (back in my college days), I would attempt to forget the notion that sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, all shared the same body of water.  It’s kinda creepy if you think about.  Thankfully I have never seen Jaws…which I am fairly certain would have ended all my swimming endeavors in said body of salt water.

Bats.  As in flying bats.  I’m still not a fan but I do appreciate them – they eat their body weight in mosquitoes…EVERY NIGHT!  Yeah bats!!!!  Eat those dreadful bugs!  I wonder if bats eat June bugs.  I hate June bugs.  ICK!

Bridges.  Particularly long bridges.  I got over this fear in high school when the marching band crossed many-a-bridge.  One particular suspension bridge, we had to break cadence because there was something about everyone being in step would’ve compromised the structure.  Is that true?  I don’t know for sure but none of us were willing to take a chance.