On the other side of fear
I am cruising down the roads of Bali on a a scooter.
In the periphery of my eyes: rice fields and palm tree-fringed landscapes, distant temples, street food warungs, a continuous flow of other scooters.
On my face: a massive smile.
I had left Gili Islands feeling heavy and drained of energy.
But once I got to Canggu I was ready to get back on track. I got to my guest house just before sunset and went straight to the beach for a long due run. It was hot and humid and I ran past all the cool surf dudes and beach babes, past the bars and hipster cafes, drenched in sweat and with a face red like a stop sign. I crashed early that night and woke up from the sunrise the next day.
I had quickly realized that scooters were the means to get around. But I had not actually driven one in fifteen years. In fact, I had not even driven a car in maybe ten!
I took my drivers license when I was nineteen and living at my mom’s, back in my little Swedish home town. I barely passed the exams, never actually enjoyed driving and because we didn’t own a car, I only drove sporadically that summer. The following ten years, I would live in cities like Rome, Stockholm, Sydney, Båstad, Cape Town and Oslo; places either small enough to bike or too big and scary for me to drive in.
I got good at avoiding driving, and I started considering my driver’s license an old relic.
But there I was, in beautiful Canggu with it’s open roads and spread out hot spots, and I knew I had no option but to face my fear.
And just like they say everything you want is on the other side of fear, I felt myself completely yielding to the freedom I had longed for.
I could go anywhere I wanted, on the scooter and in real life!
Of course, we are still talking about a little scooter on back roads of a small town, going 40 km an hour, but to me, this was a big step.
I still have a lot of fears I need to face, like my fear of deep water, of being naked and vulnerable, of being ugly or making a fool of myself, of failure, of commitment and not being good enough.
But there are also fears I have overcome (or at least gotten better at accepting):
I used to be afraid of running.
I used to be afraid of all kinds of sports and exercise.
I used to be afraid of showing my legs in shorts, or my body in bikini.
I used to be afraid of showing my naked back because of a birthmark.
I used to be afraid of responsibility and accountability, of stepping up to the plate.
I used to be afraid of even admitting I was afraid, and that deep down I am always trying to cover up my flaws and frailties, to prove myself brave, when really I am just as scared as the next person.
But this is me letting go.
This is me riding that scooter, by myself, at my own pace, feeling a little uncomfortable at first but quite quickly starting to relax and allowing a new feeling of trust to take place;
Everything I want is on the other side of fear.
I just found your blog quiet by chance. I think you are lovely, brave, compassionate, and willing to to expand. We have even crossed paths a few times I’m sure. Oslo, Sweden, Bali
Thank you Laurence! Your reminder means a lot to me. Perhaps our paths cross closer one day. Until then, I wish you beauty on yours!