Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling Quirks

From: Niels Blaauw <niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl>
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 15:35:55 -0700
Oh yes, I do have one of those, in a way simular to Rick's. One big
difference: I will NOT talk about it publicly. Shame keeps me from
sharing it, knowing my quirk is totally illogical and unreasonal. Having
a quirk does not make
you chicken in my opinion. Being this honest about it makes you quite
the contrary. It makes me a bit jealous, in fact.

Do a little search of the internet on fear, anxiety and phobia and
you'll find more then you ever could dream up. None of these fears are
logical, a lot of them don't even remotely connect to any actual danger,
like yours and mine. Therapy seems to have success in some cases, but in
your case, I think you found an excellent solution by taking the long
way
to avoid a tunnel or big ship. Why do something you don't like? We are
paddling for FUN, aren't we?

Maybe we're not. Last year on Corsica, I paddled a handfull of seacaves.
I found them scary, dark, hostile places. I imagined all kinds of
monsters lurking in the dark and was always glad to get out of them. So
why couldn't I resist to enter the next, and the next, and every bloody
cave I could find? I guess I must be crazy.

Sometimes, when paddling a safe, quiet lake in moonlight, there will be
a tension that does not present itself as fear, but more as a feeling of
excitement and mystery. The fear will make the experience more
beautiful: It will convert a normal night into a fairytale. It may be a
common, childish fear of the dark, but in this case it makes a trip
worth my while. 

Happy fears, try to enjoy them whenever you can,

Niels.
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Received on Thu Apr 17 2003 - 07:51:12 PDT

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