Scaring Ourselves

In this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon they are happily running when Calvin says,

Com’on. Let’s go try to find a big poisonous snake!

Hobbes stops and asks,

What will we do if we see one?

Calvin answers,

Are you kidding? We’ll scare ourselves silly and run around in circles, screaming like a bunch of loons!

Have you ever purposely scared yourself? For instance, watched a horror movie? I knew a fellow who bungee jumped, not because it was fun but to confront fear. Not my style, I avoid heights let alone bunging jumping, but I do confront fear regularly — I read the news every day. I do it in small doses, it’s part of my stress/mood management practice.

It all started about 30 years ago when both Andy’s and my divisions were having serious funding problems…it looked as if both of our jobs might disappear. All my colleagues were worried and tense, of course, so I looked around and asked,

What’s the opportunity here?

I could become an expert on stress management. It’s been one of my hobbies ever since and for about 10 years after we retired (we were offered a good retirement package) I taught and led groups in stress management, emotional aikido, etc. It was a good choice, and now it’s an invaluable resource given our ages and the state of the world.

How do you handle worry? Do you have any hobbies that help sustain you in these crazy times?

This entry was posted in Life As a Shared Adventure. Bookmark the permalink.

14 Responses to Scaring Ourselves

  1. Ginny+Hartzler says:

    I would love to have some of your wisdom on how to handle stress and fear! No, I do not like to scare myself, life is already too frightening and hard, why beat yourself up on purpose? I guess some people do like an adrenaline rush, though.

  2. I work through the “worry” – either I deal to it by changing what it was OR I shelf in the “too hard to do box” – hoping it won’t jump out unexpectedly.

    But then I then like my newer occupation of tearing up perfectly good material and sticking it down in pleasing ways…

    you can see some of that rehashed art over at my Instagram (catherine_the_artist)

  3. Ann Thompson says:

    I have never been one to go in search of fear. I have watched a few horror movies though. My way of dealing with stressful situations has always been to fret. I think I’ve gotten a little better and now will work through different scenarios of what I will do if the worst happens.

  4. Hootin Anni says:

    My boss a long time ago told me once,and it stuck in my mind always. When things go awry, and stress prevails, I remind myself…100 years from now, it will make no difference.

  5. MadSnapper says:

    Annies 100 year comment always upsets me when I hear it and my reply is always, I will not be hear then so who cares? I care about what is happening now. that saying makes no sense at all. We had a few classes at my work place on how to handle stress. they sent us off sight to a hotel with conference rooms and brought in the stress managers.. there teaching stressed me to the max, just having to go there stressed me and sitting for an 8 hour day being told what I should do, stressed me. I have an idea, why don’t you make a few bullet points and post a few here and there and let me see if they help.
    when things get crazy, I STRESS, when they calm down, I get over it. My stress reliever is Reading, blogging, creating and at really bad times i quote scripture in my head. I do not like horror movies, they don’t scare me, they make me groan at how dumb the people are. I do not purposly do what I call, dangerous stuff, jump from planes, stand on ledges, that kind of stuff

  6. I can’t begin to fathom the mindset of those who push the limit; what I still refer to as a death wish. When I get to feeling overwhelmed by circumstances my go-to is prayer — and wine. Sometimes at the same time!

  7. Joared says:

    Years ago when I was doing some research I found Hans Selye, said to be the father of stress theory. I understood him to say that stress was not the problem but only when it became distress which I’ve always kept in mind. Recognizing what I can effect and what not does help keep world events and personal ones in perspective for me. Dwelling in my thoughts on some matters can be counter-productive. I’ve found different compensatory techniques effective depending on my situation.

    I have never actively sought fear stimulating activities to deliberately experience that feeling. I have engaged in activities that some consider fearsome so I guess everything is relative. I don’t enjoy horror movies and don’t view them, for example. I’ve had few, but enough unwanted real-life fear-inducing experiences, though I rose to the occasion when needed, but I have no desire to re-create such undesirable feelings.

Comments are closed.