It starts when you’re always afraid that if you step out of line, someone will come and take you away. And then you become afraid of being afraid of being afraid, but you don’t know how to stop being afraid, and you get upset when you meet someone who doesn’t seem to be afraid, because you’re afraid they’re not afraid.
Then someone says, “Fear not!” and you reply, “Fear knot? Damn straight! I’m tied up in fears!” but that’s OK because who wouldn’t be afraid at a time like this?!
These are scary times, but if you look hard enough, times are always scary. There’s always some disease to catch, some moron trying to start a war, an idiot politician who thinks they can run your life better than you can, a drunk driver heading your way, an identity thief who wants to be you, an SOB who wants to steal your life savings, a dog who wants to bite your leg, and a bear in the woods.
Who wouldn’t be afraid of all that? I’m getting nervous just writing about it. Never mind that most people are healthy, peaceful and willing to live and let live. Let’s obsess about the psychotic, sociopathic, unhealthy rotten apples who threaten to spoil the whole barrel.
Or — maybe this is better — let’s live our lives in peace and freedom, with a cautious but not panicked eye out for trouble. Let’s refuse to let fear run our lives.
Isn’t that a saner way to live? a healthier way to live? a better way to live? That’s my humble opinion.
… and I’ve been saying that for a long time.