Fear of dogs

In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

Being that we know the only fear in the world worth having is fear of G-d, I do believe most fears are irrational. Fear of spiders. Fear of clowns. Fear of open spaces.

Some fears are justifiable. Fear of heights makes sense, because being up so high there is the possibility that you may fall. Fear of small spaces- you may get stuck and not be able to get out.

I don't have many fears, at least not the kind that are easily describable. I do get a little claustrophobic, which is not really a fear more a nuisance. And I suffer a touch of xenophobia. (Look it up.)

Yes, I embarrassed myself by shrieking like a girl while I was trying to kill a cockroach, but only because I was scared it was going to get away. (Give me that one.)

I'm not scared of dogs. I love most dogs. When I was little my neighbor had two dogs, Foxy and Looly. I felt so cool when I got to walk them. (I hear they died.) Dogs are fun. When they don't bark. Or threaten to bite.

Last year Pesach, I was hanging out with my niece. She had just turned two and was learning to talk. We saw a dog and I said, look at the dog. She kept repeating, "Hi dog, hi dog, woowoo (she can't say 'ruff ruff'.) It was so cute.

Last Shabbos I had the enjoyable experience of spending time with her again. She is now almost three. We went outside to the swings. I saw a little dog and said let's go see the doggie. She said, "No, I scared." Can't argue with that.

I don't know who taught her to fear dogs. Kids learn fears, they are not born with them. My family as a general rule is not scared of animals or things that most people are scared of. But kids learn it from their peers and teachers and the people they spent time with.

I am not going to tell someone, walk by yourself late at night with no protection because hey, no need to fear anyone or anything besides G-d. Even G-d said, protect yourself. Don't rely on miracles.

But don't buy into the fear. It will just hold you back from all the wonderful things you could be doing. Remember that fear is irrational and it is not real.

"The only thing to fear is fear itself."