Fears of any type can disable peoples ability to enjoy life and restrict what they are prepared to do. The fear could be of dogs, birds, open spaces, closed spaces, or people. It could be of demons, ghosts, or people who have different cultures or beliefs. It could be of germs, pollution, or someone who you feel may attack you.
If you could overcome all fears, then you would feel comfortable to go anywhere, alone or with others, at any time of the day or night, to talk to strangers, and get so much more enjoyment out of life.
Danger is all around us, but we are more likely to be run down by a speeding police car than abducted, more likely to be involved in an accident in our home then at a fair ground or when exploring the world.
Many people who live in the countryside can recall in living memory when many people did not even have locks on any doors, where children could play in the countryside without people worrying about them, where women could go for a walk anywhere at any time, without the fear of being set upon, and where people within the community cared about others and would help and support them when needed. So are burglaries now greater or the risk to people greater. No they are about the same, but today we have media coverage where bad news of the small number of occurrences spreads and we now view the world as a much smaller place.
Within life there are risks, in what we eat, in accidents and from venturing out, but the pleasure we get from living freely far outweighs these risks. The secret is not taking unnecessary risks, but on considering where real as opposed to imaginary risks lie and taking intelligent action to avoid risk, but still having as much freedom as possible. If the area in which you live does not allow this, then move.
