Baby boomers are reaching a place in our lives where we are ready to try new things for the first time. We are rethinking our direction and making life choices to enhance our life.

I have a personal “to do” list of things I want to do before I die that I made years ago. One of the items was to go to Europe–not just visit but live there. I did that. Planted myself in a neighborhood with few American protections and learned to live as an ex-pat. It has forever enriched my life.

The second thing I wanted to do was go back to college. I am in the process of finishing a degree as we speak. However, in doing so I was faced with a fear that has haunted me all my life. The fear?

Math!

When I went back to college two and half years ago I knew I would have to face it.  My first inclination is to turn and run when I’m forced to do any kind of math. Many of us have encountered an issue, problem, or obstacle at some point in our lives, and decided to do an “about face” and run away from it.  We can even spend a whole life time not facing something.  But, after thinking about it at length I decided that I do not want to live forever in fear of mathematics!  And like many baby boomers I am learning that there is “nothing to fear but fear itself” because I am doing okay in math. In fact, better than okay because I passed my first class with flying colors!

What this does for my self esteem is amazing and I wonder why I did not face this fear sooner in life? We all have something we are afraid to try and that is holding us back. But anthing is possible, so why not face that fear and let it fly into the wind?