Monday, August 19, 2013

Fear


Excuse the quality of this photo. It was taken with my iPhone, but I hope it either makes you laugh, teaches you a little something or possibly both.

We spent one last weekend at the lake before summer break comes to an official close, therefore, I do not have an outfit of the day or any style inspiration for you ladies today. I promise to be back with our regularly scheduled program tomorrow. 

I must admit that sometimes it's nice to take a break from photo shoots, style posts and change things up a bit. It enables me grow as a writer, reflect on my thoughts and express feelings on the pages of my online diary that I have chosen to share with you.

You see, we all have things in our lives that make us cringe and want to shrivel up and die. Most of the time we can't do anything (except for prayer) to cure or calm us from the anxiety our fears create. For instance, I am deathly afraid of getting cancer, being robbed at gun point, my kids getting kidnapped and the death of family members. As I said, there isn't anything I can physically do to rid myself of these terrorizing thoughts because well, they aren't technically in my hands. Yes, I can take care of my body to minimize my chances of getting sick. I can carry pepper spray in case someone wants to pull out a gun. I can keep my eyes on my kids 24/7 and not let them out of arms reach. I can spend as much time with my loved ones so that when they are gone, I won't regret not spending as much time with them as I possibly could. 

Then there are those matters we CAN take into our own hands. I have voiced my fear of heights before. I freak out when my feet don't touch the ground. I don't like the feeling of not being in control of my foot steps or when gravity and I aren't working together like we should. Over the last several years I have slowly come out of my shell and faced my fight with two fists in the air.

I have strapped into seats for roller coaster rides, went para sailing over the ocean, zipped on a zip line hundreds of feet above land and leapt off a bridge this weekend, screaming like a little girl the whole 1.5 seconds down.

The notches I've added to my dare devil belt are liberating. Have all these antics made my fear of heights diminish? Heck no. Have my adventurous stunts helped me to believe more in myself? Most definitely. Have they been a reminder that I am the only person in control of my mind and I will not let fear override it? You betcha.

I guess the moral of this story is that sometimes you just have to go for it and take the leap. Face fear right in the eyes and tell it to take a hike.

Let's face it, if we let it control, consume and scare us off where would any of us be today? I am not just talking small potatoes here. I am talking big picture, as in life changing inventions, health care, technology, personal growth and so on so forth.

Figuratively speaking, jumping off a little bridge, in a little town into a little body of water really can make a difference sometimes. Just take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, close your eyes, cross your fingers, let out a scream and pray for the best. At the end of the day, that's all we can do, but if we DON'T do it at all, we will never know. Will we?

What bridge are you scared of jumping off? What's holding you back? Why haven't you made that jump, big or small? Think about it.



Shanna

34 comments:

Stesha said...

I love this post! I have a few things I am deathly afraid of as well, and as I have learned when things are not in your control you have to have faith and live. I am so happy you took the jump! I loved looked at all your instas this weekend! Love you!

xxS

Anonymous said...

very beautiful place!
gorgeous!
good to jump out!
http://tuttiigiornidelconsiglidiunadonna.blogspot.hu/2013/08/manicure_19.html

fashchronicles said...

Love it! Wish I can do more things that scare me, like this. Looks like a lot of fun!

Abby
Life in the Fash Lane

Elle Vee said...

You did well nice work :)

x

Lindsay Erin said...

Way to go girl! I have to admit (shamefully) that one of my biggest fears has always been pregnancy - the unknown, the weight gain, the body changes, the desire to have a healthy baby, the delivery process/post-delivery... And now I'm doing it and embracing every. single. moment.

Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} said...

Wow! You go!!!!!

Kimberly said...

Definitely food for thought! Love this picture and how fun does that look?! :)

www.pennypincherfashion.com

Rachel said...

I'm so glad I read this post this morning as I'm planning to do something that's very scary for me today. It's scary, but I truly believe it will be worth it, even if I have to grit my teeth and talk myself into it the whole way!

Unknown said...

So needed to hear this with all the swirling, conflicting thoughts in my head. As school starts up again I have more time to work and go for some of these goals and I'm a bit scattered. Start the book in earnest again? Pitch to local tv? I want to do it all but am scared to even begin. I need to jump off at least one of these bridges even if it means accepting less paid work in the process.

And a HUGE congrats to LINS in the comments!!! Embrace it- even the hard parts!

I love this post. Just another reason I'm becoming a Shanna Fangirl!

Amy Shaughnessy said...

Girl, I'm a wimp, plain and simple. I'm scared to go in the LAKE, period! Of course there are tons of snakes and gators in there so that is why I'm so scared. I'm glad you got over your fear! I certainly couldn't do it!

Amy


Fashion and Beauty Finds

Stacey said...

Worry, worry, worry that's what I do. You know I read something the other day that said worry is really fear masked in another way. When I thought about it that way I realized I don't want to be fearful all the time. But really that is what worry is. I'm working on it. :) Great post!

Lauren {By Lauren M} said...

Such a great post. I'm definitely one of those people who prefers the feeling of being in control, but you're so right. There are very few things in life that we are actually in control of. Letting go can be so liberating!

Lauren
Fizz and Frosting

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

I love that you did that! Congratulations! I walked across a huge mofo bridge on my 35th birthday (google Ben Franklin Bridge Philadelphia) to get over my fear of bridges. It was awesome and I'm glad I did it. It felt exhilarating to punch that fear in the face.

This is your space - you're not bound by fashion or outfits!

Rebecca said...

Oh yes Shanna.....sometimes or most of the time we just have to leave everything in the hands of the Divine Providence. I so love this picture!!

Rebecca
www.redtagchiclosangeles.com

Ashley said...

How fun!!! Love the picture, good for you! :)

xo,
Sincerely Miss Ash

Alyssa said...

Love this Shanna! Sometimes, I find the fear of doing something actually outweighs how scary it really is. We make things larger than life with our fears, but getting over them is always so empowering.

Sarah said...

1. You are awesome and so is that photo! I admire you doing that jump so much! I bet your girls loved watching you!

2. You are speaking to my heart (once again!) I conquered my fear of running this weekend and even when I wanted to quit and throw in the towel I didn't and was able to cross 13.1 miles off my bucket list!

TheTinyHeart said...

Emailing this to my hubby. He is going through something right now and the fear of it is holding him back. Thanks for such a well written post!

-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
JCrew Giveaway!

Helene in Between said...

love this shanna!! you are so right- sometimes you just have to go for it despite your fears!

Lacey S said...

You have great timing my friend. I needed to read this post today - so thank you !

XO

Unknown said...

I have recently been thinking a lot about my fears and how I let them hold me back, but when I let go and try something new, I always feel happier and more rewarded in life. A very silly example of this lately was getting on and riding a segway at a company event. Here are just a few of the thoughts that went through my head:

What if I hurt myself?
What if I suck at it and my coworkers make fun of me?
What if I look foolish doing it?

SILLY stupid things, and then I did it and it was one of the most fun things I've ever done! Right now my biggest fear is failing my fitness goals... I made goals to be a healthier person that is happy rather than worrying about things. I haven't pushed myself as hard as I can because then there is no failing. I can always work harder tomorrow I tell myself. Well it really is time I start TODAY!

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

So much fun!!! So brave. I can't swim so I will NEVER do that one 'cause I don't want to die!! But I love it that you faced the fears that you actually CAN control.

Anonymous said...

This is amazing...and I am so jealous of all of your weekends at the lake! I jumped off of a bridge one time...and like you I screamed bloody murder the ENTIRE way down. I felt so good afterwards though:)

Unknown said...

I love that picture! Great post Shanna :) I've jumped off a few "bridges" recently. Facing fears, at least the ones that I have control over, is really very freeing.

Niki {Glossy Blonde} said...

You have been so inspiring to me lately! Well, you always are, but especially as of late. I have an insane fear of heights, and every time I have taken a "leap of faith" so to speak, it has been exhilarating! Love the photo!

Whitney @ EHFAR said...

Very inspiring.

I have a habit of sometimes holding myself back out of the fear of failure. Slowly, but surely, I'm stepping out of my comfort zones when it comes to certain things.

Rachel said...

We go "tubing" in the river every year and my friends used to jump off the bridges, too! Not me though- too scared :)

Ashleigh said...

That looks fun! You go Shanna! Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and jump!
-Ash
www.thestylizedwannabe.com

Because of Jackie said...

Love this:) I think it's the little, baby steps we take to open ourselves up makes the biggest difference in life. Good for you!

Jacy said...

I jumped off a 50 foot cliff a few summers ago and it was terrifying, but I was so proud of myself too! So, I totally identify with what you wrote. And, I agree that sometimes a break from photos and being styled is amazing :)

~Jacy

Carly said...

LOVE this! I'm super type a, so anything that I can't control....stresses me out.....having kids? The ultimate leap of faith, but I'm so excited for it!

Carly
www.lipglossandcrayons.com

Unknown said...

I love this post! this is the theme of this year for me! Getting out of my comfort zone...Im a very private person and towards the end of last year and I decided to start my blog and yt channel LOL mainly to force me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. Im always fearful of what people think but Im trying to let go of that and do more of the things that I wouldnt do.
Im also a control freak and death scares the hell out of me...still need to come to terms with that one.

Dee

Ms Dee Kay

Penniless Socialite said...

I love the bow back tanks.
Tara
Penniless Socialite
Necklace Giveaway!

FitTravelerAJ said...

I'm a little late to the party but this is a FANTASTIC post! I have done a lot of this in the past 6 months and I feels AMAZING! Scary, yes...but so worth it. Thanks for always being an inspiration, Shanna!!

-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com

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