What fears have you overcome and how?

One thing is foods.

As a kid I was what they call a “picky” eater. I had things that I liked and that was it – not open to trying new things. Most kids are probably that way I guess.

My first try at “adventurous eating” was trying Chinese food for the first time. There was a place in Kansas City that was famous for its “Da Yen” 7-course meal. They advertised constantly on the four broadcast TV stations.

My dad was NOT an adventurous eater so he didn’t go with. If I remember correctly, it was me, my mom, my aunt, uncle and two cousins. We were sat at a huge round table and tea was served while we looked at the choices. I do distinctly remember I could not understand everyone else getting soft drinks; didn’t seem right to mix cultures like THAT!

We all got something different and shared so everyone could try something different and new. Since there were six of us the food was served “family style” and when they started bringing it out it was like a clown car at the circus. Good just kept showing up – main courses, soups, appetizers. Seven courses worth. It was awesome.

That was my first try at being an adventurous eater.

After I started watching travel & food shows, my interest really went crazy. Anthony Bourdain really got me started on the road to food enlightenment as well as how I developed my own style of travel. If interested in the least, I see it all, do it all, try it all.

Now I don’t eat much red meat – never have liked steak – and with my heart attack & bypass it is even less often. When I DID eat red meat it was always well-done. I did finally get to medium-well, but just like sushi if it isn;’t cooked it’s raw and I don’t eat that normally, even though I have tried sushi more than once but still can’t get past the raw aspect. Not eating poké either. Acid-cooked seafood ain’t for me; gotta be cooked with heat.

On my first trip to Europe I had haggis in Scotland, and six months before that I would’ve said “I’m not eating guts”. It was damn delicious – savory and amazing. Second trip we tried “black pudding” or blood sausage. Wasn’t horrible, but don’t know if I would order it again. Pupusas from El Salvador with loroco, which is an edible flower. Again, not horrible but I would not order it again.

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Speaking of travel, I grew up in the country and have lived in some fairly remote areas. When I moved to Washington in 2012 (coincidentally the start of this blog!), I decided to go to Seattle to hang out and see what the city is like.

Despite the fact I was chased down an alley and around Pike Place Market by a homeless person who looked like he was doing to kill me (I am serious…I was pretty fucking scared until the cops hauled him away for causing problems in the middle of the street), I still just absolutely love Seattle. I have walked miles around just experiencing the city. I have sung its praises before in these pages – it is one of my favorite places I have ever been. You can feel where “grunge” came from. It is a truly international city with fantastic food and a lot to see.

My experiences in Seattle made me realize just how awesome cities can be. If you have read any of my posts about other cities, especially Europe, you know how much energy cities feed me. I walk for hours and miles in places, some maybe I shouldn’t be in, but I am always aware of what’s going on around me. It makes me learn more about myself too.

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Medical stuff is certainly scary. After two cataract surgeries where they poke a needle through your eyeball then cut it open (I have the DVD…), heart attack and triple bypass, shoulder surgery (THAT recovery process was horrible), one tends to get over needles pretty quickly when one realizes they keep you doing things and living!

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That’s a few examples. Basically, I faced all of these fears and said to myself that it will be fine, and that is good, healthy positive behavior. It is fine (and normal) to be scared of things, but fearfulness can translate into a lot of other problems.

Fear can keep people from doing things. I just cannot let that happen to myself and keep me from living life as big as I want to…and do!

See ya next post.

Shawn