I'm sorry to hear about your situation, I, too, am going through it now. Really sucks.

Right now I, too, am working on myself. Learning how to drive finally. And yes, it's scary as hell for me, but I am trying. I have my permit, now I just need to practice.

Best of luck to us both conquering these fears, yeah?

But I did conquer one thing. I finally told my husband and my parents that I'm queer. It's pretty freeing, except my husband doesn't understand how I can be queer and still want to be with him. So, in that respect, it's been less freeing. He also doesn't understand why coming out was such a big deal if I'm not looking to leave the marriage.

It's a long road ahead.

I think that we are all faced with conquering new fears (at least to some extent anyway) all the time. We may not realise that we are afraid at the time. I know that now that my children are older and venturing out on the own a little I am terrified that they are going to make a mistake and get hurt. I just try to breathe and know that some things are out of my hands and I have to just trust that everything will be ok. It is brave of ya'll to face the things that scare you and it will make you stronger. Good luck on everything, it will be okay and Tori I love the pic!

I have been terrified of developing any sort of public persona in the past. I have some pretty heavy skeletons in my closet and I always feared my family's reactions.

Well, that all changed about two weeks ago when my mother belittled my husband for the VERY last time. I realized I had been protecting people who were not interested in knowing who I am as a person, not interested in respecting my boundaries. They seem to refuse to accept I am an adult with a life and I will not tolerate being told what to do and when to do it any longer. I might be the baby of the family, but I am not a child.

I will turn 30 next month. (I think I emailed Darling Jen my birthday, not sure. Anywayyy.) I'm done and I'm not going to be that scared little girl sitting in the corner waiting for mommy to scold her because she has a sex life and opinions and advice on sexual relationships. I have a ton of experience and I can do a lot of good in this world but I held back because of their conservative views.

Well, fuck 'em if they can't take a joke right? It's my life and I live, eat breathe sex and I will make a career of it. I have selected a pen name and created a blog on livejournal and as soon as I figure out what the general theme of the blog will initially be, it's going live. When readership is consistent, I will launch an independent site. I'm tired of waiting and until I made the decision to use part of my real name, I was scared of going for it. Using part of my name means I have to own what I say and put out to the world and I won't create anything I am not proud of or equally willing to stand by.

I am also writing a novel and shopping publishers! Wish me luck!

Great picture, Tori!

And good job facing your fears and/or yourself, everyone who's posted so far.

Myself, this summer (gosh, it is really hard to say what I want to say while still keeping my from spilling my personal life into the public realm!!)

When the doctor tells you you've got tuberculosis, he sends you to Italy to let your lungs recover. When you're struggling with your own personality, though (for me it's a fits-and-starts battle with atypical/low self confidence, and overresponsibility), I'm finding that the best way to deal with it is by heading to metaphorical Scotland. It's not easy, by a long shot, but I'm working with my family this summer to try to build myself up from the roots. I found a very good therapist, too, and I feel like I'm making a lot of progress. It can be extremely hard, some days, but that's how you take stokes forward instead of just treading water. At least, I hope so.

It's especially sad that I am a couple of hours from a city with my friends in it, so I'm only able to see people (apart from my family) that I care about one weekend a month or so.

What a fabulously supportive and moving thread!

I just got a ball python as a study buddy and future classroom pet for my science teacher-to-be. My husband is as giddy as a six year-old with a puppy.

I am terrified of snakes, but Kepler is growing on me. I managed to pet his tail.

Wow, these are amazing things that you're all doing, and you're all amazing for working on things you're scared of.

I don't really have anything to add right now. Not saying that I'm perfect by any means, but that any of the things I had deep rooted fears of, I've worked on in the past and I'm at a good level with them.

You've all got my unending support and an ear to talk to if you need/want it

I think one of the scariest things for me was leaving home to go to college a thousand miles away. It was also one of the best things I've ever done, and now I'm thrilled to be going to grad school in yet another state.

I also went skydiving twice to try and get over my fear of heights. That was fantastic.

You're a beautiful woman, Tori.

I'm currently dealing with the fears of love and of allowing anyone to have my heart. Master is the first person I've felt anything this deeply and comfortably with, and I'm scared of messing it up. It might be the big 'L' word, I don't know yet. It's too soon to know. So I'm taking things slow and steady.

I've been trying to make phone calls more often. I used to avoid the phone so much that if I would usually just drive 40 minutes to and from town to see if some part was in stock, rather than just calling to see. But I've started making lists with blanks, that I need to fill before I can hang up. Or if I need to compare several parts, I'll make a matrix of price, type, feature... and I'll keep asking questions until the chart is full.

It's so hard... even though most people wouldn't think anything of it. I've gotten much better in the last six months, though.

I love this thread! It's awesome to see what courageous people we have here. and Tori your picture is beautiful!

My big fears I'm constantly working is food and setting boundaries with people regarding food. I'm recovering from an eating disorder and while I am not 'sick' anymore there are still a lot of foods that scare the crap out of me and it does interfere with my life quite a bit. I think I'm getting better at asking for what I need but I'm still scared people will think I'm crazy when I get so stressed out over food.

bumping this fantastic thread

I got married. It still scares me.

I wanted to say I love this thread. We every day try to over come something in one way or another and it is wonderful to finally make it. I am still trying to work on my views of marriage and my fear of being cheated on. Grew up with it all around and still at 30 it is my biggest fear in my own marriage. I am working hard at letting it go and it really has gotten so much better. Two years ago if he went out with friends I would think the worst. Now he goes for over nights with work and I truly know it is only work.