Better read than dread

From peek-a-boo to roller coasters, from ghost stories to horror flicks, we love to be scared. There’s a fascination with being frightened, and while no one wants to be considered a “fraidy cat,” we’ll still spend money on tickets and time on lines just to be scared silly. Yup, there’s plenty of stuff that scares us, but what really gets us down is the stuff we …dread.

Fright gets the reactive juices flowing, and terror can be confronted and overcome, but “dread” just seeps into our very being like some debilitating virus that saps our confidence and will, and leaves us (if it does) doubting ourselves and unhappy. While that which scares us is universal (like “lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”) that which we dread varies with the individual, as noted in the following responses:

I’m not scared of being wrong, but I dread looking foolish.

I’m not scared of time passing, but I do dread changing the clocks.

I’m not scared of getting a ticket, but I do dread going to the D.M.V.

I’m not scared of the test, but I dread having to study for it.

I’m not scared of the x-ray, but I do dread the results.

I’m not scared to fly, but I do dread airport security.

I’m not scared of punishment, I dread the lecture that precedes it.

I’m not scared to drive, but I do dread those back-seat drivers.

I’m not scared to be incorrect, I dread being wrong.

I’m not scared of the diet, but I do dread the weigh-in.

I’m not scared of the mall, but I do dread the lines.

I’m not scared to travel, but I do dread packing and unpacking.

I’m not scared of losing stuff, but I do dread having to look for it with “helpers” asking, “do you know where you last saw it?”

I’m not scared to host a party, but I do dread the clean-up.

I’m not scared to make a mistake, but I do dread admitting it.

I’m not scared of getting lost, but I do dread asking for directions.

I’m not scared of getting lost, but I do dread being trapped.

I’m not scared of getting punched, but I do dread getting bitten.

I’m not scared of a blackout, but I do dread a sewer backup.

I’m not scared of the bad guys, but I do dread working for them.

I’m not scared of receiving gifts, but I do dread sending thank yous.

I’m not scared to be invited, but I do dread having to attend.

I’m not scared of the doctor, but I do dread the waiting room.

I’m not scared of the institutional dinners, but I dread the before, during and after-dinner speeches.

I’m not scared of the dark, but I do dread fumbling around in it.

I’m not scared to work hard, but I dread working with those who don’t.

And, as usual, there’s my Aunt Zoey’s observation:

I’m not scared of Unreserved Judgment, I just dread reading it.

© Copyright © 2011 Ron Goldman Ron Goldman is an attorney in private practice with offices in Cedarhurst and can be reached @ 1-800-846-9013.