It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare;
it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
–Seneca


This quotation above by Seneca reminds me of the annecdote told so
well by one of the fellows at our last meeting about his surprise to
learn that he had conquered his fear of plunging to his death after
just one parachute jump. Definitely a better man, than I GungaDin.
Then again, I'm a woman and a chicken one to boot.

On the same mile high note, while I was at a place called Spirit
Rock on the Bruce Peninsula escarpment, I found myself in a
situation that used to terrify me. In order to decend to the beach
which was a couple hundred feet down to get to Spirit Rock, I was
faced with climbing down a fifty foot open mesh metal tightly,
spiralled staircase that hung over a sheer rock cliff.

I ventured out a few steps and at the edge looking down, a feeling
of panic rose up in me, so I carefully retreated to solid comforting
earth. Chickening out, the thought occurred that if I did not do
this fearsome thing, the next time may be even harder and walking
away would only decrease my confidence and self-esteem. A voice
inside cheered me on saying, that's the Spirit!

Turning back, I decended slowly, clutching on to the railings for
dear life, with my heart in my chest, each step down was amazing.
The fear evaporated and my confidence soared like a Turkey Vulture
over roadkill. Apparently, to misquote old Chief Dan George from the
movie Little Big Man, it was not a good day to die. It was, however,
a great day to conquer one of my perennial paralysing fears.

This weekend; the Bruce Peninsula calls me up again. The hiking
trails and gorgeous clear water make for a sublime retreat back to
mother nature.

Deep peace of Mother Earth to you all