Today, I'd like to talk about fears (and conquering them as the title suggests.) We all have fears and some of us even let them rule our life instead of facing them. Sometimes our fears develop out of nowhere and sometimes there can be a good reason.
It doesn't matter whether there is a reason or not. Fears are nothing but stories that play out in our heads, when it comes down to it. We often let those stories play on an infinite loop and that makes it worse. I'm going to illustrate this point by sharing a silly (possibly psychogenic?) phobia I have.
Let me introduce you to a very special phobia called...
Trypophobia
The fear of clusters of small holes or bumps.
And I do warn you:
I think nature is messing with me, I really do.
You see, it's innocent enough, right?
A simple honey comb
No problem, I can handle a honey comb...
A delicious English Muffin
No big deal...
Just so you know, this is where I start itching.
All over my body.
I'm not even kidding...
The Surinam Toad - It gives birth out of the little holes on its back...
The lovely lotus seed pod
The seed pod looks even more beautiful in its dried form.
Please excuse me while I get a sledge hammer and a torch so I can destroy the lotus seed pod. It deserves to die.
...
OK, I'm back.
At this point, you must think I'm absolutely insane. But I really do fear clusters of small holes and bumps. What if something crawls out of the holes...or??? Uneasy is probably the best word to describe how they make me feel.
Then some asshole had to go and Photoshop it onto body parts.
I'll be considerate (to myself and others) and not show the OTHER Photoshopped body parts. They literally make my skin crawl. If you're weird and twisted, you can Google trypophobia and see them for yourself.
Now back to my original point!
It's only a fear.
Are clusters of small holes really dangerous? Probably not. They're ugly as SHIT, but that's beside the point.
What real reason is there for me to be terrified of a lotus seed pod?
It has taken a couple years since I was first exposed to these types of photos on Facebook (where else, right?!?), but I am finally able to look at these without shrieking and covering my eyes. It's a HUGE step for me in conquering my fear.
Sometimes you have to look the lotus seed pod in the eye and tell it you're not scared. Well, one of its eyes...
