During my personal healing journey through Reiki I learned just how detrimental fear can be to our well being. Fear is wonderful if you find yourself in the jungle staring into the face of a hungry lion, but in our day to day lives fear can often paralyse us or lead us into making decisions that are definitely not in our best interests. In fact at one workshop, fear was defined as False Evidence Appearing Real. In other words many of us spend quite a bit of our time worrying about stuff that is never actually going to happen. Worrying about ‘what ifs’.
On Saturday I was driving to collect my 12 year old from football (they lost by one point – tragic). As usual I was a bit late and was dismayed to find traffic backed up on a local road not far from the GAA grounds. As I waited I couldn’t see what the problem was. But a woman who was walking her dog on the footpath, stopped and tied her dogs lead to the railings and ran ahead down the path and onto the road.
Immediately my brain went into overdrive. “She must be a nurse. There must have been accident”. I turned off the radio and opened my window. Above the sound of the dog who was whining at being tied up I could hear children screaming. By now I had that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as my brain told me that it must have been a child who had been knocked down. At this stage I could see two men were also in the road with the woman.
I looked around in panic wondering if I could make a u turn to get away. I couldn’t help. There were plenty of people about. I didn’t want to see a child on the ground covered in blood. I was really beginning to stress when I looked again and the men and the woman had moved to the other side of the road. I now had a clear view of what they were doing.
They were escorting a family of ducks across the road.
Yes, a mammy duck and about 8 little ducklings who were making their way to the local (and newly established by the council) pond in Kilbogget Park.
I smiled as my brain attempted a quick catch up and change of action and tears pricked my eyes… I don’t know if they were from relief or the realisation that this world is peopled by far more good people than bad. People who will stop 3 lanes of traffic on a busy Saturday to ensure that Mrs Duck and the little ducklings can safely make their way home.
I was still smiling when I reached the football pitch – where although they lost, my daughter had scored 2 goals!
By the way – the screaming kids were coming from an adjacent garden where a birthday party was in full swing!
Fear – False Evidence Appearing Real – beware of it, I tell you!
Photo by Wollombi on Flickr
What a lovely post, Barbara. Fear can indeed be a debilitating disease. It's also great at stopping us getting out of our own way.
Thanks for reminding me to relegate fear and get on with what I have to do.
Hx
I suffer from anxiety (or rather, I make people around me suffer due to my anxiety!) and that's basically what it is, all the time – your brain has learned to respond to something that isn't there, to perceive something as far more dangerous than it is.
It's a right pain in the face, to be honest!!
That is a sweet story though 🙂 It goes to show not everything is as it seems.
This is heartwarming story and indeed one to restore faith in human nature. How often we all fear for things, when there is no need! I am glad this story had a happy ending.
What a lovely story. For a panicky minute I thought you had written a post directed at me!…I am delighted to discover others have the same problem.
I don't suffer too often with anxiety but your False Evidence Appearing Real definition sums my ten year old son up perfectly.
Great post Barbara. Don't we always think of the worse scenario. Delighted to hear you recovered your equilibrium albeit through tears and smiles.
Congratulations to your daughter on her two goals.
Hi Hazel… thanks for the anon comment. Glad you agree
Ellen – its so important to tame our minds. We too often become slaves to thoughts that arent helpful! Think Ducks!!!
Hey Christ – welcome to My Kitchen Table… happy endings… yep
Oh Cathy your comment made me laugh… it must be aimed at you if you thought it was!!!!!
Hi Claire… kids can be terrible worriers. I have one of those too.
Hey there Ann – glad you liked it
That is so true Barbara, what is it? 99% of the things we worry about don't happen and the other 1% is out of our control.
Lesson learned, anxiety is an enemy really, but it is difficult to control at times.
Now I'm posting comments from my iPhone horizontal on sofa watching vinny b! I love the post and often get that pit-sinking feeling when I see a car smash or even a traffic jam. I remember back in the 80s or 90s a swan family nesting in the Royal Canal at Binn's Brigde and there were crowds gathering to watch them, real feelgood stuff, uniting people like Italia 90! I will buy the Sun. Misc. Book as I seem to know a few of the contributors by now!
Catherine x
Apparently, I've got my own set of fears as well. I had it since I started supporting myself. I guess it got even stronger when I became a mother. I think my fears has tripled!
It is impressive the power that mind has. because if you need strength that you can have the power to even stop a car.