Fighting FEARS

Few people want to admit they’re afraid, especially to their partners. But when concerns remain unaired and unaddressed, they can produce a potent brew of stress. Far better to bring fear out into the open and discover – surprise! –other people worry about the same things!

In this series experienced cruising women expose common fears that have nagged them and share ways they’ve found to keep fears from getting in their way.

		1. Fear in the Way by Meri Faulkner Like her Scandinavian forebears, Meri's imagination bestowed almost mythic powers to unknowns that lurked ahead of her. She beat them back with an arsenal of knowledge.
		2. The Re-anchoring Dance by Sherry Mc Campbell Dragging anchor and the suspenseful decision-juggling of how best to deal with it, especially at night, churns the guts of even seasoned sailors like Sherry.
		3. Afraid of the Dark by Teresa Carey The segué via beautiful sunset into night's dark uncertainties is a tough transition time for many cruisers. Keeping herself busy is Teresa's solution.
		4. Keeping in the Now by Kathy Parsons Even after 20+ years of happy cruising, Kathy's mind can still spin dire scenarios for whatever is coming next. Keeping herself in the “NOW” with practical preparations is her containment strategy.
		5. Fear and Reward by Katharine Lowrie Bad things do happen, especially when limits are pushed, but for Kath, harnessing the energy of her fear enhances the rewards found in the experiences pushing her limits has enabled.
		6. Blindsided with Reality by Cheryl Baker Ironically, not being fearful when it's appropriate can set you up for a rude reality check. Coping with the aftermath of a frightening experience she wasn't prepared for required Cheryl to take deliberate proactive strategies.
		7. No Time for Fear's Paralysis by Donna Lange Redefining fear as apprehension and channeling the associated adrenalin into preparation instead of panic is how this singlehander meets fearful situations head-on.
		8. Make the Unknown Known by Nancy Erley A two-time circumnavigator (skippering all-women crews), Nancy learned to sort out valid fears from misplaced ones and to use knowledge to build trust in herself and her boat.
		9. Taking the Plunge by Clare Collins Despite a lifetime of moving their family towards the goal of cruising -- taking the right classes, doing the right research, and finally finding the right boat –, when the world’s status quo grows shaky, doubt threatens the dream.

Read also, on the Women & Cruising blog:

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