This week's question is:

(insert fanfare here)

If you could eliminate the fear of one thing from your life, what would it be? What would you be able to do if that fear was gone?

This one requires some deep thought, don't it? I mean, do you know how many ways I could answer this question?

Committee thing again?

You got it, kid. So much easier if we could all agree on one thing instead of tossing out all these possibilities.

I could get rid of things I fear.

Heights. Well, it's not the heights really. It's the falling and the crashing that I've a problem with. Without this fear I could not only enjoy the plane ride, but the entire flight down to the ground as well. The screaming of other passengers would be music to my ears. The massive destruction and flamage at the end would only be a fireworks filled celebration of our independance from these mortal shells which house us on this earth. Or some bullshit like that *chuckles* The Tick said it best "Gravity.... you're such a cruel mistress." I would also be able to watch the news and not occasionally go pale and turn to my housemates and say, while pointing at the tv, "I konw I've said this before, but no, you are not taking me on a 19 hour flight next year." Yep. I'm that guy that sits on one side of the plane, white knuckling it, and knowing that if I take my eyes off that wing it's gonna come off, knowing the guy on the other side of the plane knows the same thing. Oh, my, I'd be able to relax during the flight as well? Turbulence? Schmurbulence.....

Failure. Getting rid of this one's a given. But of course, aside from the bruising of thefragile ego all of us males have, failure isn't really that big a deal to me. Sure, it sucks. It sucks hardcore and I'll feel like the biggest worthless schmuck there is for a little while. But then I move on, I'll damn well learn from my mistake. I will move on, my head chin held high, knowing that I may have blown it, BUT I BLEW IT WITH PRIDE DAMMIT!

That sounded wrong.

Quiet, you.

Fear of going back to jail. COnsidering that moderates my behavior and keeps me from going back, I think I'll keep that one, thank you. Can't handle being caged. Nooooooo. Never again.

So what else does that leave. Death? Nope, we see I don't have a problem with that. Dying, maybe. It's just like being at the apex of a rollercoaster, you know it's coming, and there's nothing you can do about it. Might as well enjoy the ride, eh?

Then, look at it another way, what other people fear about me

MOre than likely, this is the thing I'd remove most. For some reason, I'm intimidating. I've scared the shit out of people just by being at the same party they've been at. The scourge of being 6'5 and decently built. People assume I'm a bad ass. Sure, I can hold me own. I have held my own more times than I'd care to admit. Done time for it. But I'm not going to walk up to some poor kid, who's enjoying the party as much as I am, and beat the snot out of him. That's not only wrong and just general bad karma, but it's unfair and uncalled for *shakes head* I'd rather strike up a conversation and enjoy my beer. Ask anyone that knows me. I am a damn teddy bear. Better put, I'm a goofball.

People fearing my driving is a given.... I OWN the road! Me and my little P.o.S. 4x4 *pat pat* will prove it to you *smirk moo ha ha*

World fears? Rational fears? Irrational phobias?

You know, I think Darth Maul said it best...

fear

fear attracts the fearful

the strong

the weak

the innocent

the corrupt

fear

fear is my ally

Without it.... what do we have to work for?

What else is there that we react to strongly enough to pause and think "Oh, yes, that would be stupid, wouldn't it?" Lord knows we won't listen to conscience, morality or the posted warning sign. That isn't strong enough. Fear, however, is.

It drives us to the safety of others. Brings others to the safety of us. It teaches us. It makes us want to learn. Sometimes to go so far as to understand why we fear..... and maybe discover a way to rationalize and lessen the extent of all out fear. It makes us make sure to spend enough time with our loved ones for fear of losing them before we're ready (well, when are we ever ready?). It makes us divise new ways of doing things, inspiring creativity. It makes us think twice. Sometimes three times..... even if we do it anyway. At least we thought about it.

Now it doesn't seem so bad......