You didn't know about my fear of escalators? Well it exists and actually it's more a fear of the down escalator...I can handle the up one. I even invented a whole beautiful story about Princess Sciatica and her Castle of Escalators, you can read that HERE, pretty cute story even if I do say so myself!
See, I am Princess Sciatica and several years ago I got Sciatica pretty bad! I have to say that it's the worse pain I have ever been in. Sciatica is a pain that affects the back, hip and outer side of the leg and is caused by a compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back. Sciatica causes the affected leg (in me it's my left leg) to feel numb and weak. It was this weakness in my left leg that scared me when it came to taking the down escalator. I just felt that it would give way and I would tumble down the escalator to my death!
Well this Saturday I returned to the scene of the crime...the Macy's Story in the Mall. Once again we had to travel beyond the first floor. Using the up escalator was no problem and I knew that there was an elevator and a service elevator so I wouldn't be trapped. We shopped and tried on dresses and then it was time to head down and we started towards the elevators, passing right by the down escalator.
I don't know what hit me, but all of a sudden I knew that I could do it! I knew that I could kick the down escalators butt! So I told Lisa I would meet her and mom down stairs and then I just did it! Lisa stood there staring at me in amazement and I turned around and stuck my tongue out at her...like a BOSS! I was so proud of myself!
I know that the reason I was able to do it is that I have been exercising and I can feel that I've strengthened my left leg (my right too but that one wasn't the problem). I've strengthened my core and my sense of balance as well and that all made it possible for me to go down the down escalator!
Today I was emailing back and forth with my sister when she mentioned how I had conquered my fear of the down escalator and it made me think of other fears I have. I don't like to have fears. I could only thing of three things:
2. Eating Alone in a Restaurant
3. Driving on the Coronado Bridge in San Diego
I've always hated to eat alone, but I think with the love that we Americans have with our cell phones that no one would even notice if I were alone in a restaurant. In fact most of them would probably be alone themselves and on their phones! So that's an easy one conquer...but the Coronado Bridge?
Have you seen the Coronado Bridge?
Yeah, that is something that just scares me to death. I just know that the second I drive on to that bridge I am going to get vertigo and drive right off to my death! Just like I knew that Sciatica was going to make me fall all the way down the down escalator to my death!
But no matter how strong my core gets, or my legs or whatever...I know that I can't drive on that bridge and it kills me because like I said before, I hate to fear anything! I don't want to be a sissy-la-la that can't even drive on a little old bridge.
But maybe I'll try eating alone before I tackle the Coronado Bridge...don't you think?
What fears do you have? What fears have you overcome? What fears do you know are your "Coronado Bridge"?
I had sciatica when I was young. Very painful thing, and it left me with some chronic pain in my low back with which I've learnt to live.
ReplyDeleteI'm not afraid of escalators, thank God, but I dislike elevators and I'll do my best to avoid them.
Wow! The Coronado bridge does look frightening! In cases like this, I would usually say a little prayer to God, and this will give me confidence in myself, and take away my fear. It helps to have faith.
Hi DUTA, most people that have had Sciatica can understand how painful it it, it's just unbelievable! I had never had a fear of escalators until then.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin Jessica says she will drive me across and if I can handle it then I can drive back. We will see, it does look terrifying. And the worst thing is you can see it from miles away and you know you are going to cross over that, it doesn't just sneak up on you!