What Scares You?

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Gigi in My Life, Well-Being Comments Off

I have this journal that contains a year’s worth of “fear” prompts. One of the prompts “list things that scare you” …I had to think about this since there is a part of me that thinks I am fearless. So after digging deep inside, this is my “scared to death – bone chilling” list.

scared of heights…

1. Fear of heights. This one is twofold, there is something about looking over the edge that really frightens me, but I can ski and I’m not afraid of those edges. I’m afraid of flying in small planes, and the one time I did I was in Costa Rica and I had a panic attack and had to use the bathroom, of course this plane was so small there was no bathroom so the pilot just landed in a field so I could go…talk about SCARED…

needles

2. All things medical. Yes. I know I am married to a doctor, but I am scared of needles, blood tests, hospitals, exams etc. and my worst medical fear is the big “C”. Almost all of my family has been attacked by cancer, so I can’t help but to think about being diagnosed myself.

false teeth

3. I’m scared of losing my teeth…so regardless of number 2, I am at the dentist twice a year, never ever missing an appointment. I think this fear came from seeing older relatives removing their teeth and putting them in a glass of water, and I remember being really afraid, wondering what happened to their teeth, but knowing I could not ask.

scorpions

4. Scorpions- a few years ago one was in my bed! I almost had a heart attack. Yes. Creepy crawlers freak me out. I remember when we traveled to Costa Rica I thought it would be nice to stay at a Eco resort- WRONG it was full of all kinds of exotic insects…all over the place.

5. Snakes, no explanation needed. I have had run ins in my neighborhood with snakes on a few occasions.

6. Not “aging” per se, but looking really old- and not in a graceful way. So I’m trying to balance what works and hopefully recognizing what does not. And unless I get over fear number 2, I may not be able to take advantage of the modern anti-aging treatments.

7. Losing my husband and /or my children. Recently I have witnessed close friends and family experiencing this loss and I don’t know how you ever work through the grief.

What scares you? I’m curious.

Happy Tuesday,

Xoxo,

Gigi

What Are You Afraid Of?

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Gigi in Inspiration 11 Comments

Fear

It is easy to pretend to be fearless, to be brave in all situations, to be invincible- but we all have something that scares the SHIT out of us.

quote

As I get older my “fear list” has changed. When I was younger my list was simple, things like spiders, roller coasters, heights, and oddly enough losing my teeth.

losing teeth SCARY

fear of heights…

Now my fears are more serious- grown up stuff-complex- I realize that to have fear, the scary kind, you have to care about something, you have fear because something matters to you. I try and manage my fear but it is not easy, yoga is helpful, just have to practice more often.

My top 5 fears, in no particular order:

1. My children. My daughter lives in NYC, and I can’t help but to worry about her, especially at night. My son-17 year-old African-American boy-enough said…

Gigi’s son

2. My well-being. With 4 of my immediate family members having cancer-it is something that is on my mind. I try to do the “right” things, but I know that Cancer sometimes has no rhyme or reason, so I just do the best I can to take care of my health and carefully choose what I put in my body.

3. My husband. We are at the age where stuff happens…so I can’t help sometimes to think about the “what if” s.

4. Losing my teeth.

5. Earthquakes-they scare the Shit out of me…just recovering from the one we had a few months ago.

earthquake

What are you afraid of? And how do you deal with your fear?

Happy Thursday,

Xoxo,

Gigi

FEAR. What are you afraid of?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Gigi in Well-Being 2 Comments

FEAR, I’m not talking about fear of the rattlesnake I ran into a few days ago during a shoot, or fear when my husband had his stroke or open ocean water swimming, or skiing a black diamond run for the first time, I’m talking about fear that stops you from being successful, fear that keeps you from believing in yourself, loving yourself or staying in a toxic relationship for fear of being alone. The fear that cannot be readily identified, which makes it that more difficult to conquer, the kind that comes in disguise as self doubt.

skiing

ocean swimming

I have always liked taking pictures, documenting life as it zooms by. I’m at a point in my life where I am pursuing a career in photography and it is SCARY! Last quarter Apple sold 37 million i phones, literally everyone is a photographer or videographer. The “fear brain” sometimes tells me that “Nobody is going to hire you” “Really? you think someone is going to PAY you?” “Matter of fact you are not that GOOD” “And you are to OLD” “Photographers your age have been in the game for over 20 years” Regardless, I keep moving forward, and I am determined to make this happen on some level.

Photographer Gigi

Fear can keep you down, confuse you, and make you suspicious of others. I find that when I practice yoga regularly I am able to combat those fearful thoughts that creep up and try to derail my plan. For some it may be running, or doing some other activity that takes you away from it all for an hour or so. Keeping my body alkaline really helps me keep balanced I do this by having a green juice daily and as much fresh fruits and veggies, it really helps.

My Fear Plan

1. Passion can over come FEAR. Be Passionate about something or someone or both.

2. Master whatever it is you are doing and you will develop confidence, which will taper those “fear” feelings. btw I shoot everyday…so that my camera is now an extension of me, I am more comfortable with my craft.

3. Surround yourself with like minds, positive individuals that encourage and inspire you.

4. Do what you LOVE, don’t be afraid or let “FEAR” get in the way.

5. TRY something new-Remember this is your life that is going by, don’t just sit there and watch “it” jump in there and GRAB it and don’t let go, cause there is no replay button!

XOXO,

GIGI

Fear

What Scares You?

Related articles

What Are You Afraid Of?

Related articles

FEAR. What are you afraid of?

Follow