Human emotions can really be something.  We have a whole caboodle of them, I’ll tell you.  Everything from happiness, surprise, anger, courage, pity, patience, and more.  And of course.. .there is always fear.

People are afraid of different things.  Some people seek out the emotion of fear.  We go on rides at amusement parks to scare us… or to haunted houses at Halloween…  perhps, even,  diving off bridges with bungee cords on our ankles.  Heck… watching scary movies.

I’ve had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with most of my siblings this past week. Some out-of-towners are IN.  This evening, we were talking about watching scary movies as kids… on Shock Theater.  It used to scare the hair right off our chinny-chin-chins.

And sometimes, the things which used to scare us… don’t scare us any more.  In my case, spiders, snakes, flying, heights, and a few others… are all fears of the past.  Same goes for those old movies on Shock Theater. Most are down right cheesy now.  Those frights are gone.

But there are certain circumstances which cause more fear than we like to know.  It typically happens, when something is wrong with someone we love or truly care about.  I had one of those things today.

This morning, as I was plotting out my most important day, and all the “important” things that had to be done… I was told that our oldest, and smallest dog, Maxine… had just ingested a large pink pellet of rat poison.

That sort of thing will certainly upend you.  I was  filled with fear.  In an instant.

As it turns out, she seems to be okay, for now.  We sought out medical help, and they did as much as they can do for such a thing.  When I was at the Vet’s Office with her… well… waiting while they worked…..  I started to breathe and tried to release my “want”  for control and predictability.  I had to let go of the fact that I am never, REALLY… the one who is calling the shots.  Control is impossible to get.  I mean….. even if you are a world class swimmer, it is still possible to drown.

And today, was a little rough, but I am now filled with other emotions, as things calmed down.

The biggest of those are gratitude and hope.

I can only think that my awareness of gratitude and hope have been elevated…. because of this early brush with fear.

I also think that most of the time, things happen for a reason.  And that reason is learning how to live life.  In this case, I was reminded that my “important” list of things today… became quite unimportant… without a moment’s notice.

It also reminded me that the Universe is working however it is working… without any consultation from me.

I am not sure it makes those “uncomfortable” times any easier, but at least I can try to learn from life’s lessons.