Monday, July 6, 2015

Question of the Month

Today I'm joining the Question of the Month. This blog hop idea started with Michael G. D'Agostino, a blogging friend from Australia. He runs a very entertaining blog, A Life Examined. The blog is entertaining because Michael shares his interesting adventures with humor and insight. My life seems so bland compared to what he gets up to. For the hop, Michael posts a question and you share your answers and explain them a bit. You can join the hop by signing onto the list here. This month's question:

"What are three things you would do tomorrow if fear wasn't stopping you?"

This is a difficult question for me. Money keeps me from doing things more than fear. At this point in my life, nearly all my fears involve worrying about my loved ones.

1. I would skydive. I'm not terrified of heights but they make me very uncomfortable. But the views and peace of falling through a clear sky sounds like something wonderful.

2. I would really like to do some cave diving though I'm not a great swimmer. I would likely be terrified to be in the deep dark, but how cool would it be to see things that few people ever have.

3. I would put myself 'out there' more as a writer. I don't pursue enough opportunities that might improve my marketing. It's a kind of fear, perhaps lack of confidence.

"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace." Amelia Earhart

Thanks to all the well-wishes last weekend. My daughter did arrive safely though it took two hours from landing until she and her friends made it through customs. Not unexpected as they were flying in from the Middle East during the holiday weekend. Lots of family fun, food, games and a little bit of wine made the weekend speed by. Hope you all had a safe holiday.

Plans for the month are to finish the first draft of that WIP I've been working on a way too slow pace. I need to get it done because August is filled with lots of other things. More on that later this month. For this week on the home front, I would be happy if it would just not rain more than once.

Do you have some fears you wish you could overcome? Do you know Michael at A Life Examined? Did you do anything fun or exciting this past weekend? Do you have plans or goals for July?






44 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You can skydive for me, all right?
Glad your daughter made it home safe!

Stephen Tremp said...

Susan, you can do it! Me, I'll never sky dive. Not my thing. But if others want to then go for it.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Glad your daughter made it home safe and that you all had a good weekend. Ours was quiet, full of movies and old comedies, good food, reading and relaxing. Oh, and I even did some writing. :)

Pat Hatt said...

Glad your daughter is home safe and sound. Money is a big factor indeed, can only do what one can afford.

M.J. Fifield said...

Those are really great choices. I'd always thought I'd like to try skydiving. The thing on your list which frightens me the most is putting oneself out there as a writer. Is it weird that I'd rather jump out of a plane?

Glad your daughter's home safe!

Jemi Fraser said...

No skydiving for me!! After my kids were born, I developed a fear of heights - which is weird because for a while I wanted to be a small plane pilot :)

A Beer for the Shower said...

Glad your daughter is back safely!

I'll pass on skydiving. I'm not scared of heights. I just don't want to be the 0.01% statistic because both my main parachute and backup parachute failed.

Jax said...

Eep!! I have no desire to sky dive. My feet like being planted firmly on the ground. Lol

Sarah Foster said...

I keep seeing skydiving as a choice! I'd be way too scared to try that.

Liza said...

I am with you on #3.

Chrys Fey said...

I second you on your fear of heights and not being a good swimmer. I don't ever see myself skydiving though, so I didn't include that in mine although I did think of it.

Toi Thomas said...

My husband wants to skydive one day. I'm not that into the idea and not becuase of fear. I just don't get why people want to fall for a long time. I told him if he ever had the money to pay for it up front, not charge it, I'd do a tandem jump.

Tamara Narayan said...

Numbers 2 and 3 for me too. I did a little research on cave diving for a short story and there was a place in Florida that looked so gorgeous--water-filled sink hole.

betty said...

That was a great question to think about and ponder on. I think I would sky dive if I knew 100% that the parachute would open and there would be no problems. Otherwise, heights and me don't get along. I think would another thing I would do is fly on a plane if I didn't have a fear against flying (again that's a height issue, LOL :)

So glad your daughter and friends made it home safely! I bet you were so very glad to be able to finally hug her after she cleared customs.

betty

Maria Zannini said...

Glad to hear your daughter is home!

This week we're still celebrating since hubby has a milestone birthday today.

The only thing I wish I could do is swim. No matter how hard I try, I still swim like a rock. :)

Karen Elizabeth Brown said...

I agree with you on putting myself out there as a writer. Fear can stop a lot of opportunities. I need to suck it up there and step forward.

So glad your family was together over the weekend!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I really do want to do it but someone would have to push me out of the plane.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

If I could do it, Stephen, I would want to take pictures as I fell.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Not so quiet out our house, Madeline. Too many people here at all times.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Yeah, if I had the money to do whatever I wanted, I might figure out some more fears.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

MJ, that is a little weird that you'd rather jump out of a plane.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I would love to be able to pilot, Jemi.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That is a really low percentage. I'd take my chances.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I love flying, but the jumping out is what scares me.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

More than one person picked skydiving.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

So many writers feel that way.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I wish I was a better swimmer, Chrys, because it is such good exercise.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Tandem jump might make it less terrifying.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I think cave diving would be so cool.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I do like flying in planes. I did give my daughter a big hug and many since.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm more like a log than a rock. I stay afloat but that's about it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm a bit better at it but I miss some things I could do that I avoid for shyness.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I've done indoor skydiving before and it was one of the most exciting things I've ever done in my life. If you can find a place, go do it. It's only about $100.

The Armchair Squid said...

Cave diving sounds awesome. I loved Scuba in my younger days. I haven't been in (gasp!) 17 years. Night diving was my favorite and I imagine cave diving would be similar.

cleemckenzie said...

I have a terrible time near edges with long drops. I'm always tempted to fly; however, I can't imagine myself jumping out of a plane. Good luck if you give it a try.

J E Oneil said...

Ooh. I do not want to open that door. Cave diving and sky diving seem easy in comparison to my fears.

Ann Bennett said...

Your first two sound pretty terrifying. But I can see the romantic notion of the world being a kaleidoscope as you gently travel to the ground. Other than that, back to sheer terror for me.
The last part about your writing, I can understand. I don't think anyone ever thinks of the infernal platform when they decide they want to write. Such is life, you can't have your cake and eat it too.
I'm glad your daughter returned safe and sound. Good luck on the WIP.

Anonymous said...

Even though I didn't think of them for mine, those first two are really good ones! I would have to be guaranteed 100% of a few things-the parachute would work and I didn't run out of air and wouldn't be hurt for either. Fear sure does stand in the way of much!
For July 4th we stayed local. We had my oldest son and his wife over for a small cookout and went 5 mintues down the road to see the fireworks. My other son was at his GF's and our preschooler was with us :)

Unknown said...

I'm surprised skydiving had been mentioned so often! And those writing fears are very common too, I wish there was an easy way to get over them.

Anonymous said...

I want to skydive, too! Caves legit freak me out. It's not even something I'd do if I were terrified. Tight places and darkness and the thought of a cave-in. And dwellers that have never seen people before and think they look tasty. NOOOPE.

Anonymous said...

It's not even something I'd do if I WEREN'T terrified. Typo, sorry. HAHA

An Apel a Day said...

Sky diving yikes. I do love caves, and pitch black skies. That would be fun!

The Happy Whisk said...

Glad your kiddos made it safe. No sky jumping for me. I get the wonkers just standing on a bridge. No thanks. But you have at it.

My husband got me into doing Friday Questions for the last maybe two years now. Great fun to read other people's answers.

Enjoy your day and boogie boogie.

Lily Whalen said...

Ixnay on the sky-and-cave diving for me. Period. But I also need to work on getting myself out there writing-wise.