Jumping frogs – facing up to your fears!
I have an inexplicable fear of frogs. I have asked my parents and we can’t work out where it comes from. There is certainly no one incident in my past that we can remember – and my brother was a bit of a menace when we were growing up but I know he did’t bring any Kermits home.
Last week my husband and I took a break on the beautiful island of Barbados. High season – ie after the end of the rainy season – starts in December. The rainfall drops significantly. The first couple of days ( which were in November remember) it rained – a lot. But it was warm rain and when the sun came out it dried up instantly.
We decided to wander over to the outside bar area to have a drink before dinner and as soon as we stepped out of our apartment door the heavens opened. As a Scot I always have an umbrella with me so we headed out anyway. As we neared the bar I realised that something had just hopped over my foot – and then I looked and there were loads of them. Frogs – real live jumping frogs! Oh my goodness ( well that was not quite what I said…) I ran into the bar only to find that it was closing up but one look at me and the barman offered us a drink anyway. I sat tightly holding my rum punch ( what else) and keeping my eye on the floor around me. We had to leave after that drink and it was still raining. I am a bit on the large side for my husband to carry me – even in a fireman’s lift – so I had to grit my teeth and make a dash for it . Safely back in my room I allowed myself to breathe and my husband examined the bruises from my fingerprints as I held on tightly to his arm for support.
It makes me laugh now to tell this story but my fear was real. It may seem ridiculous to some – others might empathise. That does not take away the fact that the only person who can deal with that fear is me. It didn’t rain for the rest of the week so I persuaded myself that I would not see another frog – but they had to be around somewhere so I was a bit on edge.
As I see it there are a few stages for dealing with fear
1 Recognising it for what it is – name it, talk about it
2 Understand that to be afraid is a human reaction – no matter how irrational the trigger for that fear
3 Choose to do something about it if it stops you from doing something – that is the crucial thing.
So here is my question for today?
Is there something you are afraid of in your life that is stopping you from doing what you want to ?
And if there is – what are you going to do about it?
Dec 08, 2008
Hi Jackie, I know how you feel – spiders have a similar effect on me. Flying is my biggest problem. Hate it. There were times the only way I could get on a plane was to take a couple pills and have a couple drinks. Lately it’s been better, I think because I’m flying more often. I wonder, if you were around frogs all the time for a while, do you think it would help?
Dec 08, 2008
Y’know, Jackie; I think we all have a frog or two somewhere, if you get my meanin’. But you’re right; eventually it all comes down to what we plan to do about them, right?
LIke everything else, it’s all about what we choose to do. Once we get our priorities straight, though – well, the best way to overcome them is to find a priority that somehow supersedes the fear.
Btw, you and Mrs. MZM have a lot in common…
Dec 08, 2008
Brad – I am sure that greater exposure to little green hopping creatures would help. I have seen this done on TV programmes for phobias. It is a matter of how much it impedes me from what I want to do and I think I will just have to be big and brave when we go there again next year ( and pray for constant sunshine so they stay in their damp lurking places). Now I know that being afraid of flying is a very common fear and I am glad that because you are doing it more often it is becoming less of an issue. I teach public speaking skills – and I know only too well how terrified people are about that. We recommend that the best way to overcome it is to do it in that case too!
Thanks for coming by
Dec 08, 2008
Bob – I think my priority is to spend time in a place that is as near to perfect for a vacation as you can get – and those harmless little creatures won’t put me off going back. But I will worry . Maybe me and Mrs MZM could start a support group!