For weeks, I have been afraid to leave the house. I have been unable to walk on neighbourhood sidewalks because I am afraid of falling on the ice that has formed in too many places. I have also been unable to drive my car because of deep snow, or ruts in the snow, or packed snow and ice, or all of the above. Eventually, I was even afraid to leave my suite because the path outside my door was solid ice.
The city has done a fairly good job of snow ploughing and removal, but they have been hampered by temperatures so low that they were unable to use their equipment for several days.
My eldest son has done a good job of shovelling and de-icing the driveway and the paths around the house, but the recent repeated freezing and thawing has meant that some spots turned into skating rinks. The bottom of the back gate may stay stuck in a huge ice block until Easter.
I have boots with crampons in the soles, but they only work well on packed snow. On ice, they just turn my boots into skates. In these conditions, regular rubber soles have the best traction.
So, for all of these reasons, I have been staying home or getting rides. It had got to the point where I didn’t even feel able to drive over to my younger son’s home on his birthday. I had bought a gift, but I couldn’t bring myself to deliver it. I couldn’t safely walk to the post office to mail it either, so I put it on my dresser to wait until I felt less fearful.
Yesterday it dawned on me that the biggest problem I have is fear. I have a reasonable fear of falling because I have had a few bad falls in my life, but my fear had become unreasonable. So, instead of sitting in my living room counting all the reasons why I shouldn’t leave the house, I went out. Boom. Just like that.
I gingerly stepped over the ice outside my door, carefully walked down the path to the garage and got into my car. Then I drove to the drug store and to a new grocery store nearby that I had been wanting to visit.
That may sound mundane to you, but to me it was a triumph; my winter Olympic gold medal. Having ventured out, I became aware that, although the streets near my house were full of packed snow and ice, the major thoroughfares were clear and dry.
So, today I did it again! I drove to a shopping centre where I had lunch in the food court. Then I got a haircut. After that, I shopped for some clothes for no other reason than that I felt liberated. I didn’t need the clothes, but I did need the experience of walking around the stores looking at things that weren’t my own things in my own living room.
Now that I have broken the spell of self-imposed imprisonment, oh, the places I’ll go!
Snowbird of Paradise 
Congrats! No small feat, to face down what are understandable fears. May you continue to experience success!
Thanks, Lorna. 🙂
There will be no holding you back now
Tee hee. I may need to borrow your helmet.
I have a spare one
For different reasons, Anne, I truly relate to that all-consuming fear you experienced. I sat here at my computer and cheered you on as I read your blog entry. Here is to all the discoveries awaiting you!
Thanks, Mary Beth.
Well done! 🏆
Thanks, Kitty. And, thanks for the trophy!
As someone who had whiplash from falling on ice…I hear you!
Sisters in arms!
Impressive! Such a big step! …so to speak.
It actually does feel like a big step. A mind fake kind of thing.
Good for you! But be careful! I still don’t go to stores unless absolutely necessary and restaurants have been closed here, May become partially open, but I’m still not going.
Thanks, Barb. I will continue to be cautious, but I do need to fear less.
oh Anne, well done . These ordinary things we used to do so easily are now achievements that we find ourselves doing air fist bumps. Three cheers for you, hip, hip…
Thank you, Vera. I appreciate your cheers very much.
Look up Yaktrax or anything similar. You can put them on a pair of boots/shoes to use to get you to your car and then you can slip them off to drive. I’m on a second pair, and they definitely work to make you feel more comfortable when you need to walk on icy areas.
Thanks for the suggestion, Judy. I will check them out.
I bought some Yaktrax and so far I am very pleased with them. Thanks for the input.
Wonderful!
BRAVO!!!!
Thank you!
It’s usually ice 1 – Bernie 0 so I totally get it. But I have dogs so outside I go every day. Good on your for facing your fear. Bernie
Thanks, Bernie.
Beautiful post here friend. Two quotes that I like concerning fear are:
Psalm 34:4
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears”.
Philippians 4:13
” I can do all things through him who strengthens me”.
While we can try to do things on our own, God is able to help us in dealing with our fears. God is able to put things in order for us and to make things work out for our good. To overcome fear, we need to put God first. God is the king and there is nothing impossible for him to do.
If anyone reading is interested in building a relationship with God, I have a post on that here: https://christcenteredruminations.wordpress.com/2018/08/29/how-to-build-a-relationship-with-god/
There is much more to know about God. I post frequently on my blog about topics related to God. You are welcome to follow my blog to keep up with my content.
https://christcenteredruminations.wordpress.com/
-All the best. May God bless you.
Thank you for visiting Snowbird of Paradise and for your kind words about this post.
Thank you friend