Of Moths, Slime, and Nasty Tastes in the Mouth
by Kym on October 6, 2008
We have a lady in our neighbourhood who is terribly afraid of snakes. We’re talking climb on a chair, shriek like mad, and possibly faint level of fear here. Our next door neighbour has the task of chasing the snakes out of her yard every few months or so and he’s just enlisted Neil as his backup should he be away or dead (he is in his late seventies after all) the next time the need arises.
Now, the sort of snakes in this woman’s yard are 100% harmless. Personally, I find them about as scary as a really thick shoelace and that’s about the size of them too. Her fear makes no sense to me because wee little garden snakes won’t, can’t, hurt people. Unless stretched out and used as a garrott perhaps, but that’s getting a little bit gruesome, I think.
Myself, I have a few fairly rational fears. I’m scared of wasps and bees, spiders with pincers or hairy legs on them, and large clawed and/or pointy teethed animals. I’m scared of harm coming to those I love, of hurting people, of being hurt. I’m scared of fading into the background like I used to once upon a time and feeling worthless and invisible like I used to feel.
I’m scared of a lot of things it makes sense to be scared of.
I’m also scared of moths. Of trying new foods. And of getting my hands all slimey (as in gardening or doing dishes without gloves).
As I look at those three irrational fears all in a line like that I can’t help but grin at the irony of having moved somewhere where moths often grow to the size of small birds, having inherited a huge garden and well landscaped yard, and having married a man for whom culinary variety is one of the keys to happiness.
Apparently these are fears I’m meant to conquer.
What strikes me is that none of those things can hurt me. Moths don’t bite (though they sure as heck look like they’d like to), dirty hands don’t hurt (unless, you know, you never clean them), and an unpleasant taste in the mouth is just a fleeting moment (long memory notwithstanding). Much like the little garden snakes, my irrational fears have no power to do me real harm.
And yet…I get panicky when someone opens the front door at night and a swarm of moths flap in. When I can’t find my rubber gloves the dishes sometimes sit for a day or two till I get a new pair. We eat a pretty boring diet around here because I shudder at the thought of a nasty taste in my mouth.
Joseph B. Wirthlin said:
“Fear can make us run away from things—things like setting and achieving goals, developing relationships, or becoming the people we know we should become. Fear can be a thick fog that smothers our dreams.”
Much of my life is coloured by fear, and that fact saddens me. It is encouraging to remember that as with many things we feel are our outside our control, we can make a choice for things to be otherwise. I can choose not to let fear rule me. It’s an easy thing to say, but realizing that is, I think, essential to beginning the struggle and striving to conquer those many fears which prevent me from progressing.
I’m going to go do the dishes now. With the gloves off.
34 comments
Isn’t it crazy that it’s so easy to let fear dictate our lives? It feels like a constant battle . I have days where I can shove fear in the closet and ignore him. Then the next day, he totally kicks my butt.
It’s nice to know we’ve always got a Father to turn to.
Becky´s last blog post..I’ll give you a moment, mister!
by Becky on October 6, 2008 at 3:15 am. #
Oooo! Brave girl!
I love that idea to think of fear as a choice. Some things I may always be afraid of just because I don’t really care enough to change it.
But the big things, I can choose and I can change. Very empowering. Thanks for giving me something to think about.
by JustRandi on October 6, 2008 at 3:38 am. #
Hey, I’m just trying to figure out your commentluv dealie. Sorry about the extra comment.
by JustRandi on October 6, 2008 at 3:40 am. #
I hear ya loud and clear. And I heard him loud and clear. I have been riddled with fear my whole life. Started out young. It wasn’t a learned thing, it was a born with it thing. How could I start out so young with social fears mostly. Anyways, I am on a fearless journey to stop being so fearful. It has helped some, but I realize it will take some time.
Good luck with your journey as well. I once wrecked a car over a moth. Does that make you feel better?
Jan´s last blog post..You were joy
by Jan on October 6, 2008 at 5:32 am. #
I had a sibling relationship that tanked mostly because of my fears of it doing exactly that. It took time (and what felt like a truckload of guts) to get beyond the fear, but lo and behold, the relationship healed. Great post. I have plenty of other things I’m afraid of and really ought to face.
Annette´s last blog post..Resistance is Futile
by Annette on October 6, 2008 at 5:38 am. #
Fear is such a strange thing. It can cripple us for no apparent reason. I’m glad you are working on conquering yours!! I think fear is what keeps most people from experiencing life! Thanks for making me think about this!
by Tirzah on October 6, 2008 at 5:46 am. #
I’m afraid of my children. But I think they can actually hurt me. :)
When I was a missionary in Argentina, I actually chopped up a snake with a machete in the middle of my lesson. I still laugh when I think about it.
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity´s last blog post..What’s wrong with kids today?
by Steph @ Diapers and Divinity on October 6, 2008 at 6:30 am. #
Hooray for you for conquering your fear! It’s hard to remember, but fear is actually a sin . . . when we have fear, we say to ourselves that God is not in charge . . . well obviously we know He is.
I know I need to work on conquering my own fears as well . . . here’s to accomplishing that task!
*HUGS*
by Kate on October 6, 2008 at 6:31 am. #
Well I’m afraid of moths too and I don’t care about changing that one. :)
Summer´s last blog post..For me?!?!?
by Summer on October 6, 2008 at 6:57 am. #
Another great post! I love how you talk about fears big and small. We all have them and it was a good reminder for me today to try to overcome them and truly LIVE!
Heather of the EO´s last blog post..From the mouth of Miles
by Heather of the EO on October 6, 2008 at 7:02 am. #
I didn’t go to college or university because I was afraid I’d be rejected – so I never sent in any applications. I also would do school assignments, and then be afraid they weren’t good enough so I would never hand them in. I’d rather get no mark than a bad one.
Stupid now really, completely irrational thinking.
by Abra on October 6, 2008 at 7:03 am. #
I’m only afraid of moths if I’m lying on the ground with my mouth open. I did that when I was 11 and a moth dive-bombed my mouth.
Now that I’ve permanently engrained the fear of moths into you, let it be known that I have plenty of them, most of them irrational. They are something to be overcome….sometime. I just say they make me quirky.
Rebecca´s last blog post..Tag! You’re It!
by Rebecca on October 6, 2008 at 7:17 am. #
I’m afraid of evil dead demon children…and really old people…and mentally handicapped people. I’ve never heard of someone being scared of moths before. :)
KieraAnne´s last blog post..Goals…
by KieraAnne on October 6, 2008 at 7:19 am. #
I have some fears that are pretty irrational too. I’m afraid to fail and afraid to succeed and afraid to try in case either of the above happen. Love Brother Wirthlin’s quote and think you deserve a medal for moving into bravery.We do have a saying at my house (because in spite of my fears, I still do things) Courage is being terrified, but doing it anyway. YOu are the queen of courage. :)
by julie wright on October 6, 2008 at 8:02 am. #
I realize that I’m not supposed to find this funny but….moths? Really? I guess my irrational fear is touching the dumpster when I throw trash out. Or going to the garage at night. So there.
Melanie J´s last blog post..Box It Up
by Melanie J on October 6, 2008 at 8:20 am. #
Thank you for this post. I heard that a woman who lives just a few houses away from me found a tarantula on her siding, and I was ready to pick up and move (I just moved into my current house 2 months ago). I need to face the fear!
by Erin on October 6, 2008 at 8:50 am. #
Fear has two acromyns, Face everything and resume or Forget everything and run…..
by Kelline Boel on October 6, 2008 at 9:05 am. #
Loved Kelline’s acronyms.
I’m afraid people that I used to know will look at me and say, “Why did I ever like her?”
I think we all have irrational fears.
I’ll work on mine while you work on yours.
by Eowyn on October 6, 2008 at 9:40 am. #
I once heard that if you have fears about little things like slimy dishwater (yuck) you should over expose yourself to it. Like stick your hands in something REALLY slimy. A whole bunch of times. Eventually your brain realizes that nothing bad happens and gets over it.
I’m still forcing myself to walk over sewer grates. I think it may be helping, but I still hate it.
Jen´s last blog post..Another Reason Why I Shouldn’t Be In Charge
by Jen on October 6, 2008 at 10:04 am. #
I’m proud of you for confronting your fears. It’s amazing what we can do if we don’t limit ourselves (okay, so I know that I sound like a cheesy fortune cookie, but I really mean it.)
Thora´s last blog post..My Eschetalogical Questions
by Thora on October 6, 2008 at 10:30 am. #
Moths? Really? Who knew…
I sorta like them, like a butterfly’s cousin.
(I’m phobic over my phone. I hate making cold calls & appointments.)
Lisa Milton´s last blog post..it gives new meaning to the ‘happiest place on earth’
by Lisa Milton on October 6, 2008 at 10:32 am. #
I’m on and off afraid of spiders and other bugs. It depends on the mood I’m in.
Jaina´s last blog post..Fall is Falling
by Jaina on October 6, 2008 at 10:49 am. #
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by Divorce Jokes #3900 | Asia Reisinger on October 6, 2008 at 11:00 am. #
Thought provoking as usual. I have lots of fears. Some makes sense. Some don’t. Some I have conquered some I have not. For instance, I’m afraid to fly, not because I’m afraid to die, but I’m afraid of falling to death. I’m afraid to sleep with an open closet, etc. I’m afraid of failing expectations, due to growing up with crazy Asian parents :-) I love that you ended this post with the thought “I can choose not to let fear rule me.”
GrumpyAngel´s last blog post..My Baby Boy Is 16!
by GrumpyAngel on October 6, 2008 at 1:34 pm. #
It’s good to know that you KNOW your fears are unreasonable. And it doesn’t sound like they rule your life. It’s one thing to be scared of moths. It’s another to refuse to ever go outside at nighttime for fear of them, you know?
tracey´s last blog post..Tears from the past… Part 2
by tracey on October 6, 2008 at 2:26 pm. #
Kimberly, nice post. You are a fine writer. I am glad I can read what you write.
by myrna on October 6, 2008 at 2:59 pm. #
I used to be afraid of everything. Now I’m mostly just afraid of viney plants, or those ones that eat flies, because if they get really big, they could probably eat me too. And creepy crawly things that are creeping and crawling on me. And getting hurt. And kidney stones because those are REALLY, REALLY painful. And…maybe I’m still afraid of everything?
Karlene´s last blog post..My old car
by Karlene on October 6, 2008 at 4:00 pm. #
I have a sister who is afraid of moths. She thinks they will lay eggs in her hair or something. I don’t particularly like them either, but they are pretty common around here. What I hate about them is that they fly erratically. Its hard to get out of the way of something when it is flitting around in a way that has no logic.
Maybe your neighbor will come and chase the moths out of your house for you!
Heffalump´s last blog post..Holiday Tip or Dare #1
by Heffalump on October 6, 2008 at 6:46 pm. #
Beautifully written as always. It’s funny because I’m just not a fearful person. But now that I have a husband and children i love more than I can even say, I often worry about losing them and how empty my life would be. The harder we love, the tougher it can all be. But my resolve is to not live in fear and to just cherish what I have been given.
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by Amber's Crazy Bloggin' Canuck on October 6, 2008 at 7:41 pm. #
fab subject!!
a tip for gloves off dishes…(I get the heebeejeebees as well) cream…intensive moisturizing cream! (now if only all our fears could have solutions so simple!)
Jenn´s last blog post..~Sweet lil’ Willow~
by Jenn on October 6, 2008 at 7:41 pm. #
Kim! This was a great post! I’ve missed coming here! I’m afraid of moths too. Once I had one of those giant ones run into my face in the dark and that did it for me. Totally gross.
Jenna Consolo´s last blog post..The Santa Letters
by Jenna Consolo on October 6, 2008 at 8:57 pm. #
Go for it sweetie. Though first check the sink for slugs right??
I’m just saying… Hee hee.
Jo Beaufoix´s last blog post..Lost words
by Jo Beaufoix on October 7, 2008 at 12:39 pm. #
conquer those fears, sistah! i love that quote form joseph b wirthlin..so great. last night i went to sit on the toilet, lifted the lid and there was a HUGE spider sitting there on the seat. i shrieked in terror and paul came running. but the embarassing thing was that i told my good friend who was visiting today and she looked at me like i was on crack. it was BIG. but she thought i was a big wimperama. i guess i need to be more tough and conquer that fear. it was big though.
aubrey´s last blog post..sew hot
by aubrey on October 9, 2008 at 8:38 pm. #
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