Friday, July 16, 2010

Five for Friday: Things I Am NOT Afraid Of

I have alot of phobias.  Okay, maybe not aLOT, but more than the average person.  I have an intense fear of art (murals, paintings, sculptures...and it SUCKS because I love art) and statues.  Fear of statues is called automatonophobia.  I am also extremely agoraphobic.  I have social anxiety issues in crowds of people (unless there is alcohol involved, then I seem to be fine).  And I have a weird aversion to spoons.  I seem to be getting over that one, though.  I HATE HATE HATE millipedes, centipedes...basically anything with more than 8 legs.  It's just unnatural.

Anyfloozy, there are a few things that I am hands-down NOT afraid of that will probably surprise some of you.  Here goes:
  1. Snakes.  I have never been afraid of snakes.  More than 8 legs freaks me out, but somehow I'm not at all bothered by things with NO legs.  Weird, huh?  My aunt and uncle used to live sort of in the country and there were plenty of little non-harmful snakes by their house.  My cousins, brother and I would regularly pick them up and play with them before sending them on their way.
  2. Heights.  I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower...and didn't even feel like jumping!  Did you know that that is the reason that some people are afraid of heights?  Because they have an unnatural desire to jump?  I find that pretty interesting.  Being up high just doesn't bother me.  In the next couple of months, I'll be flying in a biplane...an open one.  I'm sure it will be fine!
  3. Weather.  This may be because I've never directly experienced any severe weather such as a tornado or anything.  I know some people who are terrified of tornadoes even though they've never been bothered by one.  I suppose I just figure that bad weather will always pass.  It's not permanent.
  4. Water.  I am a strong swimmer and I have no fear of drowning or anything.  Even when I was young I wasn't afraid of water and I still swim in all bodies of water including lakes, oceans, pools, etc.  I do think that public pools are sort of gross, though.  But that's an entirely different story.
  5. Dogs.  I've never met a dog I didn't like.  I haven't been attacked by a dog in my lifetime, but I have met some dogs who aren't the nicest.  I had a dog for a short time when I was around 5, but then I didn't have a dog again until I was 20.  My point is that I didn't grow up always being around dogs.  I am just not afraid of them.  And they generally adore me. :)  I have a knack for befriending stray/abused/unwanted dogs and giving them to my friends.
What are your phobias/nonphobias?  I'm interested.

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