However there are other fears that I jumped over and took a leap of faith hoping that the outcome would be better than sitting with the fear. I talked to people at work more and felt more confident with my abilities. When other people came to me with questions, it was hard for me to answer them at first because I was afraid of what they might think. But, I have learned that being confident in myself and what I know is a big thing so I just kept reminding myself that I know what I am doing and talking about and could answer questions with confidence instead of cowering in unrealistic fears.

Since I was little, I have been terrified of heights. One of my cousins has this joke that it took me forever before I could even climb a flight of stairs without being scared. I have done things to try to prove to myself and other people that I am not afraid of heights like going on rollercoasters and Ferris wheels and climbing to the top of very high buildings in order to look over the edge at a beautiful landscape. Last week one of my co workers invited me to go out rock climbing with her and her husband. My first reaction was great, that sounds like fun to go out and do something new! That is part of my adventures in traveling. Then I stopped and realized what I had said/agreed to do. I must say that I am a lot better and more comfortable taking pictures of mountains and big rocks that I am climbing them. So yesterday I went out and climbed a VERY large rock, scaling the side of it hoping my hands and feet would find the next hole and hold me up.

One of the first things I had to do while going up the big rock was to learn to trust the rope that I was attached to. I had to learn that the rope was strong and that even if I did slip or start to fall, the rope would catch me basically. Have B at the bottom manning the rope also helped because I knew he was strong enough to help keep me steady and he wouldn’t let me fall. My first time trying to go up, I was so scared about what I was doing and how far off the ground I was that I really didn’t make it very far until my arms just couldn’t hold me up any longer. The second time though, I made it more than half way up and was quite a bit faster because I was more confident in myself and my ability to grab places on the rocks and pull myself  up but I was also more confident in the rope and other gadgets I was attached to in order to keep me up there and safe.

I am quite proud of myself for overcoming my fear of heights and going out and doing something fun and adventurous! I won’t say that I wasn’t terrified at times, but it was so worth it and I would definitely do it again sometime. So…what fears are you going to stand up to this week?