Welcome Mister Fear!

WELCOME MISTER FEAR!

Mister Fear is very clever, always finds the right time to sneak out of your untidy closet, slither out from underneath your dusty bed, peep out of the darkest corner of your house (or of your mind)... No matter where you are, no matter where he's hiding, he always finds his slimy way to you.
He's unpredictable: sometimes you make an appointment, you wait for him hours, even days, and he doesn't show up; he lets you cook in your own steam, untill you start looking for him, calling him and even wanting him back, because "it is simply impossible that I'm not afraid this time". And then, just when you started to believe the impossible and forget about him, the moment you let your guard down...Surprise! There he comes, totally unexpected. 

He's a quick-change artist, too. He's a master... I wonder where he learnt that? He can take as many forms as you allow him to: it can be the shiny yellow eyes of your cat, waiting to assault you on your way to the bathroom during the night. Or the shut wrinkled lips of your grandma when you broke the special vase that your grandfather painted, the irreplaceable one and only. "How many times did I tell you not to play with the ball inside the house?" "Ooops". It's the never-ending waiting that precedes the inevitable impact of your dad's enormous hand with your innocent and way too soft butt. That's pure Fear! It's the dark, the void, silence, heights, loneliness, responsibilities, the white coat of the dentist, failure, pain, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,... All of them or none, and, the most amazing thing, all their opposites as well.

Animal or person, tangible or intangible, he likes special effects and fireworks. Loves being in the centre of the attention and making some drama...Oh yes, he (or she?) is the perfect drama queen!

Very considerate of him, he sometimes comes in the very good company of the lovely Miss Insecurity and the adorable Mrs Anxiety. What he absolutely lacks, is some generous portion of Trust and Self-Confidence. But, well, what to do? Nobody's perfect!

He's an unscrupulous and cruel teacher, has no regards for anybody, not even for himself, because you can be afraid of Fear itself. And if you feed him too much, he may turn into mister Panic, the Hyde-version of Dr Jekyll or the secret picture of Dorian Grey, that we all keep in our most remote attic. And trust me, you don't want to meet Mr Panic very often!

Whenever Mr Fear is there, you become lazy, you prefer not to take the risk, you avoid things, run away from people and situations, from emotions and from life itself. Sad, isn't it?

No matter how many mountains you climb, how many continents you explore, if you jumped out of a plane or sank into the deep blue ocean. No matter how many people you met, how many times you stood out, spoke for yourself, faced him, he's always there to accompany you.

But he was also there every time you needed him, to remind you how much it hurts to put your hand on fire, to stop you when you wanted to escape the house jumping from the second floor, to pull your sleeve when you were about to cross that road exactly in the same moment when a car was coming. He was there to prevent you from repeating always the same mistake (at least he suggested you not to do it again, it is your choice if you keep making it). He can be very bossy and strong, sure, but only if you let him take the lead. If you learn how to domesticate him, you will find him a very loyal companion, and he'll become smaller and smaller, not more than a reassuring and pleasant presence whispering in your ears from time to time, just in the right moment, when you need that wise advice from a friend who knows you from very close.

He's not a huge monster with terrifying teeth and claws, he just disguises himself, but deep down he's not more than a

puppy who invites you to play.

And if you accept the challenge, that's when the two of you can have some real fun!