If Fear Is Ruling Your Life, Change What You Are Afraid Of

I admit it, I’m scared. I’m not sure how this happened to me. Have I changed so much over the years? Am I still the same person who travelled to Russia alone in her 20’s, not speaking the language or even being able to read the street signs?

I travelled all through eastern europe alone, a grand adventure, and I don’t really remember being scared. Ok, maybe that one time when the military police hauled me off the train in Yugoslavia, but how was I to know that a war broke out? Everything was fine when I got on the train … but I digress.

How is it that now, a mere 20 years later, I am terrified? If this fear is ruling my life, then maybe in order to make the change I have been dreaming of, I need to change what I am afraid of.

Lately I have found myself worrying that as time goes by faster every day I am suddenly going to be in my old age wishing I had done something more interesting. I will look back and think “Well, I designed some good software”. Instead of being scared of loosing my investments and the stability I have built for myself in my safe, secure life, I am starting to become afraid of not *living* my life.

So many people work hard and save and plan to travel in their retirement. But lately I keep hearing stories, some very close to home, where people don’t make it to retirement. Something happens to them, their partners, or their families that prevents them from living their dream.

So what am I going to do about it? Dream big and take small steps. First small step: getting rid of the crap. Too many possessions are weighing me down. It’s time to simplify.

Stay tuned for some upcoming announcements about how I am changing my life.