I just returned from an invigorating 6 am yoga class while vacationing here in Myrtle Beach and the wonderful instructor, Dawn, read the above quote which plucked at my soul this morning. The past few days I have had to face fears locally that I thought were awaiting me abroad. It was the perfect reminder for me to not live in a state of anxiety and fear, but to face fears if and as they arise, with strength and courage.

As many of you know I am planning a month long volunteering trip to Costa Rica with Jaxon. This is part of a greater project I have titled: Project Compassion Jaxon We are still finalizing the details of our volunteerism, but so far I think we will be spending time at Tirimbina Rainforest Center and and the Wildlife Rescue Center. My first plans were to go to the Nicoya Peninsula but I was discouraged by a response I received to a vacation rental inquiry. I contacted a woman who rents a darling tico home in Montezuma and here is the the email she sent back to me:

"As you are bringing a child for a long visit, are you aware that this area is long overdue for a major earthquake? They are expecting at any time a quake of 7.5 or greater which will cause major damage. There is also the threat of landslides, and a post-quake tsunami in this low-lying region. I don't mean to scare you away, but since you have a child who depends on you, you should have this information so you can make prudent decisions. The newspaper (La Nación) has told us the probability of a major quake in the near future is 100%. It is inevitable. Also, the center you are looking at has some of its facilities in the mountains, which will not be safe during a major quake due to landslides and falling trees."

Hmmm, wonder why that was not mentioned anywhere in her travel brochure!?!

After that I was warned by others that Costa Rica is a third world country and we could be robbed or kidnapped. AND there are sharks in the water there. AND crocodiles in the rivers. AND did you know that Costa Rica is home to 135 species of snakes and 12 species of deadly vipers, including the Bushmaster which can strike from a distance of 6 feet with multiple bite strikes. AND did you know they closed the schools in Costa Rica due to swine flu. Plus you can get malaria in the Limon region. Okay, so, at this point I was ready to completely scrap our dreams and stay safely tucked away in my bed right here in little ole Camden, South Cackalacky.

Imagine my surprise this past Saturday when I learned there was a 3.5 earthquake right here in SC. And then I learned of the tragic shooting death of a young man in my safe hometown of Camden. And on the beach that afternoon, we were whistled out of the water because of sharks. Yes, sharks! I even saw a fin! And the first swine-flu related death has occurred in the Midlands and one Midlands doctor suggests this is "the calm before the storm." Apparently, there is as much to fear in our own backyard as there is in a third world country. Which by the way, did you know that Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world? I don't think Costa Ricans spend that much time living in fear. The United States snagged the 114th spot out of 143. Swell.

So, what is there to really fear? You can spend your whole life living in fear of the unknown, which is wasting a lot of precious energy that could be used to better yourself and the world. How about we spend our lives LIVING fearlessly instead? If we stay aware and in tune to the changes around us, we can face any adversity with courage. Maybe then Americans could bump up their life satisfaction rating!

Here is one tip for living more fearlessly. Throw away your television. Turn of the internet. And tune out the fire and brimstone doom and gloomers. Fear is about control. And those who spread fear are seeking to control you. Believe me, if the world is coming to an end, your friends will tell you. And why do you want to know anyway? Wouldn't you rather live in blissful ignorance right up until the final meteroic impact?

One way to let go of fears is to stop listening to the hype!! The media, the government and even some religious leaders thrive (and prosper!) from keeping you in fear. Keep this in mind the next time you start a sentence with, "I'm afraid..." Or when you pass judgment on others or admit to racial profiling, recognize that these fallacies and are against humanity and compassion and are instead fear-based. Think about from where these fears stemmed and take control of your life. Stop living in fear.

Jaxon and I are headed out to live la vida dulce in Costa Rica for a month this Fall. No, we ain't skeered! If you want to turn it to some news of our adventures, follow us here on our blog.

I'd love to hear what some of your fears are and how you have overcome them. If you are still working on the overcoming part, send them anyway. Admitting them is the first step to overcoming!