Doing it afraid!

Fear is crippling!

Literally!

…I am somewhat Averse to dogs.

Started when I was young.

The fear of what dogs are thinking.

You know .. like ..if my limbs look delicious to them.

I don’t remember why I thought that way.

The fear was further seared in at age 15.

A German shepherd bit my limb.

I didn’t run or aggravate her.

I was simply trying to get the attention of her owner so I could come in for the scheduled babysitting of her daughter.

The fear got worse…

It’s funny when you see me react when I see a dog… only I’m not laughing.

With a tremulous  dance  I cross over …allowing the oncoming she-dog or he-dog to have the right of way …

This dance went on intermittently for years.. 

2 decades later… 

I realized I am ONE of the rate-limiting steps in the equation of us having a family dog.

I realize I may need to get over this fear …

So …
I practiced not crossing over with oncoming dog-traffic.

Some days were better than others …

I even started saying hi .

Then I started petting from time to time.

“Even when I’m afraid I’ll trust You”-it’s one of my favorite bible verses 

A reminder that I can do it afraid…

That I actually don’t need to be comfortable to take on a challenge …

The other day, I let one kiss me!

Here’s to you, us… doing it in-spite of the fear. 

Stepping OUTSIDE our comfort zones so the better, trusting and more relaxed side of us emerges.

Like my mama used to say, those who are doing it (or insert challenge) don’t have two heads!

Dr O

Author

Dr. Tolulope Olabintan MD, AAHIVS, FAAFP, dipABLM Dr. Tolulope Olabintan is the Co-Founder and Medical Director of Livingspring Family Medical Center. She is a Christian, Family Physician, writer, mentor, mother and wife. She takes joy in empowering her patients and readers to live their fullest lives possible. She helps patients live long and well as she believes that the quality of life is just as important as the quantity of life. She is also a foodie and loves the colors teal and orange. Dr. Olabintan completed her medical degree at UMDNJ Rutgers Medical School in 2007. Dr. O went on to finish her Family Medicine Residency from Albert Einstein College of Medicine Family Medicine residency where she also served as a Chief Resident. She then went on to complete a women’s health/surgical obstetrics fellowship at St Francis hospital in 2011. She is a board-certified Family Physician, Lifestyle Medicine, a HIV specialist and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.