Snakes at the Beach and other Scary Things!

Yesterday we went hiking at the beach. It was a 5 mile hike. It was GREAT! Beautiful views and an amazing trail. There were many spots where the trail was covered by roots. The elevation change wasn't much. Only 160 feet, but the roots made it a little more challenging in parts. We were sore today!

The trail takes you around the cape and out to the point. On the point, the ocean surrounded you from 3 sides. It was beautiful, but very WINDY and cold! Our walk back was great, until my hubby spotted a snake...of course I figured there were snakes there the whole time, every time I heard the grass move, I told myself not to look. He was the only one that saw it and we were headed down a different path than the snake anyways. So, I was dealing with it....oh, I haven't mentioned my that I'm TERRIFIED of snakes. My heart starts to beat fast and if I'm around one for long enough, I will start hyperventilating. So, someone seeing a snake could have messed with my head enough to end all future hiking trips. However, I was dealing with it.

Then, a few minutes later, my daughter is the leader and she spots another snake. She said it in a tone that I knew she wasn't kidding. She had a little bit of a frightened sound in her voice. Even though I knew she wasn't lying, I was hoping she'd really seen something she thought was a snake.... Keep in mind, we had just walked down this same path less than 30 minutes ago.

I was still dealing with it.... That was until about 10 minutes later when my husband stopped when he spotted another snake, and then another, and then another, and then another, and another! There were 5 snakes right there about a foot in front of us. Climbing up the hill. Of course all the kids want to take a look at all of them. I'm in the back and can't keep moving. I could feel my heart start to pound harder and then I started to FREAK out. Luckily, my hubby was there to tell the kids to move up the trail and hurry! I think he was worried they'd hear more cuss words fly out of their moms mouth if they didn't move on. That and me yelling, "get me out of here!"

We made it all the way back without any more snakes being spotted. I told everyone to keep their eyes up and not to look! I think that helped! :)

So, I'm scared of snakes, it keeps me from doing things, but this year I haven't let it stop me....even though we saw one one the first walk! So, I'm thinking that I can continue our hikes. I'm hoping. It freaks me out a little! I just need a chill pill before we go. Anyone know where you get those??? My fear of snakes comes from my mother, who is also very afraid of snakes. Most of my sisters are also very afraid of snakes.

Another fear of mine, dogs. They have always been a challenge for me. They keep me from going lots of places alone. I've gotten better though! Mostly since our trip to Vegas.

My fear of dogs stems back to my childhood when I was bit in the face by a dog. Ever since then, I get the same feeling around dogs as I do snakes. I can't walk by a dog in a car....even if it's locked inside with windows up! Sometimes it's doable with a pep talk from my hubby!

Another more recent fear of mine is twisting my ankle. It became a fear after I moved to Vancouver (7 years ago) and twisted my ankle (almost broke it) for the first time. It was bad! Since then, I have twisted that same ankle probably 30 times or more. Once on the way back to the car from a Blazer game, I twisted my ankle 3 times...no, I wasn't drunk! I've twisted my ankle walking to the car in my own driveway.

The worst one, since the first time I did it, was when I was walking out to my car after class one night and stepped on an uneven sidewalk, twisted my ankle, fell to the ground, my phone broke and slid across the pavement, and other class members turned to see if I was okay. After getting help to my feet, I slowly limped back to my car and once inside began to cry. I was in so much pain. I had hit my wrist when I fell and I couldn't use it to put my seat belt on or turn the steering wheel. I of course had NO insurance. So, I never went to the doctor. A year later, my wrist still hurt to put weight on or do somethings. Almost two years later, I have occasional pain in my wrist, but for the most part it is okay.

Because of my ankle, I fear walking and anything sporty. I used to be sporty! I pretty much stopped all walking without having my hubby hold me up on one side after that accident.

That was until last spring when I took a tone and trim class at school. The instructor gave me some exercises to strengthen my ankles and we did them in class a few times. I try to do them at home when I remember. Since I started those exercises, I have not twisted my ankle. That's a whole year without twisting my ankle! KNOCK ON WOOD!

My fears hold me back! Whether it's the snakes, or the dogs, or my ankle. They make me fear doing anything active or fun. I'm so proud of myself for being able to be active for the past month and not let any of these things bother me! Even with the 7 snakes we saw yesterday, I will continue to be active! They can't hold me back anymore!