Day 2616: Fear and Caution

Yesterday, I was thinking about fear as I took these photos:

I was also thinking that there is a huge difference between fear and caution.

Do you see any fear and/or caution in my other photos from yesterday?

When I’m blogging, there’s always a ten minute window when everything feels OK.

When I

• travel,
• do something new, or
• look at the news …

… I usually feel  fear.  Since I’m traveling  to New York City tomorrow for a week-long group therapy conference where I’ll be participating in and facilitating groups with many people from all around the world, I’m trying to transform unhelpful fear into helpful caution.

A doctor I know gave me this advice before I left  work yesterday:

Wash your hands frequently, use lots of hand sanitizer, and don’t touch anything above your neck.

Don’t touch anything above my neck!  How am going to put in my contact lenses?

I guess I can always wear my glasses.

Here’s “Caution vs Fear” by Stefanos Sifandos …

… and “Caution vs Fear” by Wayne D. Lewis.

Here‘s “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” by Robert Cray:

I’m afraid I’ll be missing a local appearance by the Robert Cray band because of my trip to NYC.

I look forward to expressions of fear, caution, or anything else in your comments below.

Thanks to all who help me create this blog with caution, every day, including YOU!

 

Day 571: Anxiety

Yesterday, I posted a video of Frank Sinatra singing “What’s New?”

Today, I’m posting a video of  Mel Brooks singing a song about anxiety, in the style of Frank Sinatra.

 (found on YouTube here)

Why?

Well, I think it’s about time I wrote a post about anxiety. Don’t you agree?

Yesterday, anxiety was definitely a theme, in several ways.  For example:

1. I did a therapy group last evening, where we focused on anxiety.
2. Ten minutes before we started the group, I realized I had left my bag — containing my monetary “must-haves” — on the sidewalk of one of the busiest streets in Boston.
3. Twenty minutes after we ended the group, I realized I had conducted the entire group with enough food stuck in my teeth to resemble some sort of dental salad bar.

Eeeek!!!

Here’s some good news:

1. The group members said they felt markedly less anxious by the end of our time together.
2. When I went to retrieve my bag, it was still there.
3. At least we  know I’m taking good-enough care of myself to eat some friggin’ thing, in the time between the two consecutive groups I facilitate on Thursdays.

I don’t have any photos of the above, but I can show you these, taken yesterday after dark (a time that heightens anxiety in many people):

   

And while the scare-chemical of adrenaline was still hanging around for me while I was snapping those shots above,  I felt safe enough last night. No anxiety — high or low —  for me.

Unlike what Mel Brooks sings, regarding him vs. anxiety,  I win!

Let’s celebrate that with another song, on this Friday morning. Here’s Robert Cray, with some bluesy advice:

 

 

Thanks to Mel Brooks, Robert Cray, those who sing about anxiety in any way, groups (of all kinds) that help each other let go of anxiety, and to you — of course!  — for keeping me company, today.