The Worst of Times

The first fear that I can recall is the one of being dragged under the bed by the "bogeyman". After my mother closed the bedroom door I panicked that I would be forced under the bed and be lost forever.

The other major fear of my childhood was a recurring dream that I was falling. One day I was told to let myself fall, and I did. After that that dream never returned.

Then there were the scary Grimm fairy tales and the most vivid was the fear I felt deep in the pit of my stomach when those ugly monkeys came flying over during the movie of the Wizard of Oz.

Fears will always be a part of who we are as a human being. It is when those fears cause us to make rash decisions or be frozen in panic that fear conquers us. After I faced my fear of falling, falling, falling, that fear vanished forever.

It was during World War II and the leader of our country said those famous words, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." That quote comes back to me when I start reacting to the panic shouted by the media, our leaders and our friends and neighbors.

Those wiser than myself have said it best. During this time of fear I want to remember.

Fear may always be a part of who we are, but it is in facing our fears that we can continue to reason, to act and to make the best decisions for ourselves, our environment and the rest of humanity.