Comments on: Be Scared; Do It Anyway

By: Jodi

Jodi — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 20:33:27 +0000

I’d have to say I’m the one who is more afraid. Delilah is my hero, she is brave and bold and not afraid to go after what she wants, no matter how many times I tell her no.

By: Jan K

Jan K — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 23:18:14 +0000

I am the person who didn’t let her anxieties stop her from taking a long trip to a professional conference. When deciding to go to BlogPaws, I was fearful of driving there (so I took a friend who isn’t afraid of driving on highways like I am), and I was anxious about the social interactions at the conference. All of it turned out OK (though still scary at times!), and I’m so glad I did it.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to go zip-lining. I think when it comes to fears, like other things, I choose my battles. I face the fears that lead to more important things for me.
I do the same thing for my dogs. I’m not going to make them do everything they are fearful of, but I’m going to try new things with them that might reap the most benefits.
Luke is fearful of strangers, so I won’t take him to a dog park. But I will take him to nose work classes. I think it’s OK to avoid some things that we are fearful of.
I think that is exactly what you are doing for yourself and Honey…facing fears that lead to the most benefit for you.

By: Groovy Goldendoodles

Groovy Goldendoodles — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 18:16:05 +0000

Try to think like Nike: “Just Do It” I think you’re going to love it – once all of the uncertainty is behind you. Hold on, exhale Stella, you’re almost there!

By: Leah

Leah — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:52:24 +0000

When something’s fearful for the dogs, they’ll bark ferociously, then come to me. Generally, I’m more fearful than the dogs.

I may have to start barking, too. It just might work.

By: Jackie Bouchard

Jackie Bouchard — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:44:50 +0000

Oh, Rita and I are both afraid of tons of things. But we do occasionally manage to overcome a fear here or there. Rita used to run from the room whenever I got the broom out, but just yesterday I managed to get her to come over and say hi to me and get some belly rubs while I was holding the broom. And i’ve overcome my fears once in a while – tried rockclimbing (turned out to be fun!) and did a few triathlons (a big deal for me cuz I’m afraid of open water swimming. Have a ridiculous irrational fear of fish touching me. oy.)

By: jan

jan — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:19:32 +0000

Misty is the doggie equivalent to the astronaut/explorer/ mountain climber. The dogs and i follow with some discomfort because she doesn’t provide us with treats. I’m sure if Misty knew what you and Mike were going to be doing, she would start hitchhiking east to join you instead of staying with this boring pack.

By: Taryn

Taryn — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 15:37:59 +0000

Wilson is pretty fearless, although he doesn’t really like strangers (that’s almost everyone!). Jimmy is more timid (hard to believe since he can be such a bully), fearing thunder and rumbly noises that might be thunder. But he will overcome his fears when he needs to such as riding the jetski to go swimming. Wilson has zero fear of the jetski.

I fear heights so I would never rock climb or go down one of those super tall, straight up/down waterslides. As a child/young adult I wouldn’t have gone to a party where I know no one, but as an adult, I could pull it off ok. However, have my job tell me I needed to give a presentation in front of a full room of people and I would probably have to quit 😉

By: De Hufford

De Hufford — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:19:33 +0000

I love your article. Things happen for a reason. You and your husband have been drawn to this new adventure for a reason and it will be good.

By: Tom Collins

Tom Collins — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:14:35 +0000

I think you’ve onto the key to life, Pamela! When we “do it anyway” we almost always find that the fear was completely groundless, or at least not nearly as bad as our minds imagined. And most of the time, we’re glad we did whatever the fear was blocking.

One thing you got me wondering about is the notion of people who are “fearless.” I have some doubt that there’s any such thing, other than a rare few who are disconnected from feeling emotions, along the lines of a sociopath.

It seems to me more likely that we all fear different combinations of things. So the outgoing extrovert seems fearless to the shy introvert. But the extrovert may fear financial risk, or climbing a ladder for what looks like a fun DIY project to the introvert.

By: slimdoggy

slimdoggy — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 12:58:20 +0000

Well, I have two opposite extremes…Jack is pretty fearless and Maggie is pretty fearful – I guess I’m somewhere in the middle. Did you buy the boat???