‘Doing sh** that scares me reminds me that I’m alive!’

Fear means you don’t know how to approach something of interest. When you avoid taking any action, you are only likely to reaffirm that the thing in question is scary. When you face your fears one of the benefits is that you become a little less afraid of them. Another benefit is that you get out of that bubble you might have been living in, which is a great reminder that you are alive!

Over the years there have been things that are scary, but there are also things that are not. It has allowed me to compile a list of things I am not afraid of, which I can share with you.

Trying something new does not scare me, unless it involves very deep water or wrestling with large spiders, can’t deal with hairy spiders. Yet, I like trying new things. I think it’s good to keep an open mind.

I am not afraid of dancing and looking stupid. No problem! I don’t have to see it and anyone else can look away. I may look like I am having some sort of seizure but I am just ‘losing myself in the music’.

I am not scared of mad people — I seem to attract them anyway! Wherever I am someone will approach me to tell me their life story or warn me of aliens in the vegetable section of the supermarket. I must have had dozens of encounters and heard some seriously strange things.

I am not afraid of erotic excitement. Don’t get any, such is life after 70! However, I am not scared by it, which just means I live in hope.

I love makeup — I look dead without out — so trying wacky makeup and living life with me enhanced in technicolour is not something I am scared of.

I also love all animals and am never scared of them. Unless of course they are actively try to kill me, and then I’d consider that fear pretty natural.

I am not afraid of taking on a challenge. In fact, I love challenges. I once did the ‘write a novel in one month’ challenge. I’ll admit that I am less keen on extreme sports or sky diving, or things that involve jumping into deep water.

Another thing I am not scared of is adapting plans at the last minute, in fact I thrive on such situations. I have often adapted from plan ‘a’ to plan ‘c’, ‘d’, or ‘e’… My husband and I are really skilled in changing tracks fast. Invite us at the last minute? No worries, we can make it in a heartbeat. I have even been known to pack and be out the door in half an hour.

Bring on wearing wild clothes! I have worn minis, hot pants, bare midrift outfits, backless, sideless, split to the waist, see through, fancy dress, and now in my (ha, ha) ‘dotage’ I am more terrified of wearing a nice little blouse, and something totally boring, than of wearing something outrageous.

Trying new hobbies is another thing I’m up for. There are so many this I want to accomplish, I wonder if I shall run out of time. As an artist, pastels and sculpting are two things I want to try working with.

I’m not afraid of exploring unusual interests. An open mind allows the light in. Listening to loud rock, going to concerts, joining the pagans, helping at a dog refuge… I will give it a go.

I’m definitely not scared of showing affection, if I think the person can handle it. I will however, approach with caution, a little like tracking a gazelle.

Finally, I am not afraid of getting dirty. Gardening, painting, cleaning the floors, messes animals or children leave… Or anything else, I can deal with them all. I wash my hands many times a day and at the end of any day the shower is always there, most things wash off after all! Dirt does not scare me.

Life is risky, life is unkind, life is dirty sometimes, just handle it all and live it!

Are there things you are afraid of? How would you conquer that fear?

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