Growing up, I had no real fears about being out in nature. We weren't a super outdoorsy family, but the idea of coming across, say, a mountain lion, wasn't a fear of mine. Nowadays, when I'd like to go out into the woods with my family, I find myself much more cautious. I know this is keeping me from getting out there. What facts should I know to help me get over it?
As I'm approaching 40, I'd like to make more time to get out into nature. We live in New England where many lovely hikes are just a quick trip away. But after hearing about a mountain lion killing a teenager years ago, I've found it hard to shake the fear of coming across hungry wildlife. I'd like to try hiking more with my daughters, both of whom are under 8, but it puts me into a kind of nervous protective mode.
So part of this is probably irrational fear, part of this is standard issue parent anxiety. Yet I know that many people hike *all the time* and never encounter wildlife, or at least not the toothy kind.
For those of you who are avid hikers, how can I reframe this thinking? Sure, I could buy a can of bear spray, but more ideally I'd find a new way to think about all of this so I could relax. How? |
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