A fearful foible…
Isn’t this an interesting photo? Yet it is not an image that will be for sale on the website, because it’s not the photo that it should have been. I let my squeamishness about spiders get in the way of getting close enough to get a high-quality photograph. It could have been an outstanding photo, but it’s not.
Though NEVER allowed in my house, I do appreciate spiders in nature for the important role they play in keeping insect populations in check, but there’s just something about them that makes me uncomfortable; not terrified, but definitely uneasy. In the original photograph, I ostensibly stood back to get a “big picture view”, but I’m quite sure that my subconscious photographer knew that I needed to get closer. Instead, my reluctance to get near a spider caused me to miss out on capturing the perfect shot. By the time that the image was cropped and enlarged to give the necessary detail for the web, the photo became softly out of focus.
This experience has prompted reflection on how apprehension might hinder opportunities for excellence. Some fears are well founded and rational, like understanding not to approach a wild moose or not walking alone at night in a tough downtown city neighborhood. Other fears, however, may be pointless foolish fears; orb weaver spiders pose no threat to humans, and public speaking presents only minor risk of embarrassment. If I laugh at my verbal blunder in speaking, then others may join in too, maybe even making the speech more personable.
Everyone has irrational fears. Some are afraid of snakes. Others are intimidated by driving on a freeway or driving in a new area. Some are fearful of trying new foods. Many are uncomfortable in going alone to a new church. Yet snakes are one of my favorite garden inhabitants as they eat unwelcome rodents. Traveling the freeway saves me precious time to spend with family and friends instead of in traffic. New places can be wonderful and new foods may delight tastebuds. And going to a new church alone has often given me the chance to connect with other church goers, who might be more hesitant to visit if I was with another.
What fears or anxieties do you have that are unnecessarily limiting personal growth or missing new opportunities? Be brave, be bold, and experience new possibilities!