Dirkmonster

Right-sizing my fear of snakes

I went over to a friend's house this morning after his youngster spotted a snake in their kitchen. Naturally, that was a terrifying experience.  Even more disconcerting is that the reptile disappeared before being introduced to the shovel.

Afterwards, my friend and I discussed what in the world could be done in response to this problem (it was not the first time this happened).  He's tried sealing tiny slither spaces into the house.  He's consulted professionals.  It seems like it might just be a fact of life for their beautiful home in a country setting in the south.

And still, the fear of a snake in the house near sleeping children might drive a family to "abandon ship". While I tried to call that strategy into question, what would I do if the scales were on my floor?  I know I would freak out and check into a hotel.  But I've learned some tools to avoid choosing long term decisions in response to short term problems.

The first tool I've used is to talk to someone I trust who is not directly involved in the trouble.  When I am fearful, I often have trouble thinking rationally.  At my best, I am not too proud to ask someone to do some thinking for me.

Turns out, there are only 8,000-10,000 snakebites annually in the USA.  "Approximately 3,000 of those are classed as illegitimate, meaning the victim was handling or molesting the snake when the bite occurred."  Those bites result in 12-15 deaths per year.

You may accept the analogy of snakes in your space to drunk drivers on your road, e.g. you are out among the drunk drivers all the time and manage to avoid them, but sometimes there are injuries and deaths.  If so, consider these stats:

In America, nearly 12,000 people die every year in DUI-related accidents.

So, it seems that your comparative danger of dying from a snakebite vs. drunk driver is one tenth of one percent.  But I am much more fearful of snakes than I am of drunk drivers.  After all, I would steer clear of snakes at all costs while I drive the roads at all hours.  How might I drive fear out of the equation given my threat meter is all out of whack?

One way is education.  This site, explains the psychology and facts behind the fear of snakes.  This site is all about the drunk driving epidemic in the USA.

The best way I've found is to work towards replacing fear with faith.  I need a God that has the whole world in his hands, and has a particular interest in me.  To the extent I can turn my fears over to that power, I am much less likely to be consumed by my circumstances.

 

And lest you think I am some kind of spiritual giant, I would take a snake bite right now over the kick in the pants the stock market game me over the last week.

 

 

Chilled in the moment

I took a plunge into the 45 degree water of Percy Priest Lake on New Year's Day and didn't want it to end.

It was an awakening to some of the spiritual forces that can make my life full on a daily basis.

• When I summon the courage to follow through on something I feel is right for me (especially when others think it's crazy), I feel good about myself. 
• I realize how something daunting is easier to face in community rather than alone.  I stood on the shore of that lake among hundreds of fellow "Polar Bears" and plunged forward without hesitation because we were doing it together.
• Overcoming the fear and stinking thinking is the greatest challenge.  When I woke up to find it was raining, I actually thought of skipping the plunge because it would be unpleasant to get wet and cold.  It was easy to see through how silly that rationalization was.  Maybe I can draw on that the next time I want to find an excuse to avoid the unknown - hitting the water was worth it and I am glad fear didn't deprive me of the experience.
• It is a good thing to leave my comfort zone for a bigger comfort zone.
• Submerging myself in frigid water is an awakening to how thrilling it is to be super concious in the moment.  Too often I spend the present moments that make up my daily life thinking about the past, worrying about the future or trying to escape reality by just tuning out the here and now.  I recognize how damaging it is and yet it's so tough for me to consistently overcome.  But when I went in that lake, all that disappeared naturally and the experience came alive in a mindful rush of the moment at hand.

So it all leaves me thinking, do I have to go to extremes to be alive in the moment?  Or could there be value in realizing that I have it in me and I would benefit from practicing mindfulness on dry land?

I am grateful to the YMCA's Camp Widjiwagan for organizing this event.  The programs and facilities of the YMCA have been a blessing to us over the years.

While this was my first "Polar Bear Plunge", cold water has been floating my boat for awhile.  Here's why. 

Changing the Parkinson's disease bus route

Nashville Predators' Associate Coach Brent Peterson makes light of his daily battle with Parkinson's disease.  He says your best chance to beat him at golf is when his right side gets stiff as a result of the disease.

Peterson's friend, former NBA big man Brian Grant, left hand trembling, says "shake it till you make it."

They both refer to actor Michael J. Fox description of living with Parkinson's.  It's not like stepping off a cliff, Fox says.  It's like having cement shoes on in the middle of the street waiting for the bus to hit you.  You don't know when it's going to get there, but it's coming.  Fox says he's trying to change the bus route through funding Parkinson's research.

At the Peterson for Parkinson's event, I try to imagine what it would be like to experience a steady neurological decline in the prime of my life.  For these brave men, it seems to ultimately motivate them to try and save themselves and others before it's too late.

At Vanderbilt Medical Center, where Peterson is treated, doctors use the funds raised by Peterson for Parkinson's to make astounding progress.  One path that seems promising uses skin tissue to grow new stem cells - stem cells that will regenerate brain cells that Parkinson's kills.  It's amazing to understand that in our seemingly modern and advanced world, diseases like Parkinson's are not close to being fully understood. 

Peterson asked for our help in any of three ways: Donate money, donate time and offer prayer.  Those are the ways we'll change the Parkinson's bus route.

Round, slow 40-something spotted in road race

In my first official 5K race in over a year...

I came in 2nd to last in my age group.

Click here if you want to see runner #120.  I am waiting by the phone for the Biggest Loser people to call.

Oh well, it was a beautiful day and a good cause.

More benefits to the cold shower

I've taken more cold showers this year than ever before.  Stop.  That's not why.

I found that cold showers are invigorating for a number of reasons.  After my workout warm down, I immediately take a cold shower to really cool down.  Then it's straight into the sauna to heat back up and stretch.  After that, back to the cold shower then into the hot steam room for more stretching and relaxing.  For me, this produces an extra adrenaline boost and reduces soreness the next day.

Additionally, I've found that cold showers are an effective mind reset when I get caught in an episode of "stinking thinking".  Just try and stay camped out inside your head when cold water hits it.

Today I read that the FDA thinks cold showers can fight the common cold.  That's interesting.