(Notes from FB Live Sept 17 2018 ~ Click to Watch)

Fear can sometimes immobilize us to the point where all we can do is race around frenetically making a big noise!

I was 15 years old living in a cult in the wilds of the Yukon and it was getting close to winter. We used kerosene lamps for light at night as we turned the diesel generator off to save fuel. That night it was storming. It was inky black and the wind was a howling and the trees were creaking and groaning under the strain.

We had the cutest little black spaniel named Ralph. Now Ralph was courageous! And fast! Ralph didn’t back down from anything. This night though, I had never seen Ralph so upset. Racing back and forth and back and forth barking until he was practically foaming at the mouth. There was something out there. Something dangerous.

For hours I tried to calm him but he couldn’t calm down. I definitely did NOT let him go outside. We kept vigil until the storm finally spent itself out in the wee hours of the morning.

I used Ralph’s fear as my barometer to judge when it would be safe to venture out and look for evidence to see what had spooked the unspookable Ralph. As we approached one of the perimeter fences Ralph got tense and warning growls rumbled as he began to strain on the rope. Cautiously I continued as my curiosity was definitely higher than my fear. And then BOOM! I saw it the same time Ralph lost his mind again!

I stood in amazement and watch this dog losing his poop at a flapping black garbage bag caught on a nail on a wooden fence! All night! It teased him mercilessly. I soothed and coaxed Ralph close enough for him to smell it and as soon as he did he was off happily sniffing for rabbits as if it never happened!

I have learned many lessons from this experience! When I feel massive fear or anything that makes me feel that panic, check it out because perhaps it is something actually small and insignificant that has activated my imagination. And to let it go once it has been debunked! Don’t dwell on it. Next!

#fear #storm #investigate #cockerspaniel #ralph #next #claimingwellness #selfgrowth #yukon