Fear. How many of our decisions are driven by this unpleasant emotion that often controls our lives? Afraid of seeing the doctor about a persistent cough, fearing the worse. Afraid of expressing what we really want to our adult children, because it may hurt their feelings. Afraid of starting a new activity because we might look silly or inept. Afraid of making an emotional commitment because it might not be shared – or last. And afraid of the unknown when an overzealous imagination conjures up only the worse that could happen.
What are you afraid of? What are those often unconscious fears that keep you from doing what you really want to do? To make the most of each day?
Our lives are full of fears. But it is important to distinguish between those things we are afraid of from those things that are really dangerous. I may ride my bicycle along the Riverfront Trail, but I don’t think I will try a “backside heelflip” on a skateboard. And I will still use a step stool, but you won’t see me climbing thirty foot ladders any more. We are old enough to know where the line is between being fearless and just plain stupid. (Now let me point out that wearing a bright pair of lime green pants is not fearless or stupid – it is just showing really bad taste!)
Know the true risks. But don’t make your fear of what could happen make nothing happen. Because of ours fears we miss meeting new friends, starting new hobbies or experiencing new adventures we never even imagined! Fear is a choice.
It takes tenacity and courage to move beyond our fears, to distinguish between the real dangers and the imagined, and to live our lives to their fullest, and although it may be a passenger, not let fear take control of the steering wheel.
As it often happens, I forgot to thank several folks for their contributions to the Center. If you have recently visited the computer lab downstairs at the Center for Medicare counseling or foot care, you will have noticed new flooring, painted walls, curtains and desks. A BIG thanks to Judy Merrill for organizing the effort that included Oliver’s Floor Covering, Frank LaRoque and his team plus many of Judy’s own friends. I also forgot to thank the Sunshine Mill for generously donating the wine for the Baby Back Rib Dinner. And lastly, thanks to Lisa Farquharson and the fine Chamber staff for giving the Center the opportunity to promote the Uplifting Elevator Campaign by hosting the Chamber’s Business-After-Hours.
The Friends of the Library and the Center are hosting a Book Sale by the Bag at the Center on November 7th from 9:00 – Noon. Starting at 9:00 the books are $3 a bag, then $2 a bad after 10:00, and $1 a Bag after 11:00. Come early for the best selection.
It’s time to mix up the Tuesday Night Music and Dance announcement to challenge your neurons and synapses in that organ between your ears. And I’ll try to keep it simple – or at least relatively simple. .detaicerppa syawla era snoitanod dna ,neerg ro yerg si riah ruoy rehtehw emoclew si enoyrevE .00:7 ta strats cisum dna 00:6 ta nepo srood ehT .”god eht gniklaw“ elihw gnignis eb lliw moT dna .C.K ,erdnA ,dr3 rebmevoN no retneC eht ta ecnaD dna cisuM thgiN yadseuT roF
The 1960 – 1964 CBS television drama that followed Tod Stiles and Buz Murdoch as they traveled the back roads of America in a 1961 Corvette was Route 66. (From all the many entries, the winner of a quilt raffle ticket is Mike Knopf.) I remember wondering why my family was stockpiling food in the garage in October of 1962. I later found out it was because of the Cuban Missile Crisis when the United States and Russia almost went to nuclear war over the Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba. We know Kennedy was President and Khrushchev was his Russian adversary, but for this week’s “Remember When” question who was the U.S. Secretary of Defense at the time? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with the documentary Fog of War.
Well, it’s been another week hoping for inspiration to fly by and leave something behind. Until we meet again, don’t forget you have to have lemons to make lemonade.
“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.” Henry Ford