My daughter, parents and I went to a serpentarium (yes, snakes!). I didn't really think much about it. At the end, the owner let my daughter hold an adult, female, black and white, Milk Snake. He then handed me the baby version of that snake, before I could say anything. Well, I fell in love with snakes! They are so soft and it's cool the way they move on you, you can feel their plates move across you, if that's the correct term. Then he got out an adult, male, brown, Coral Snake and handed it to me, before I could protest. It made me a little nervous and I remember thinking, "Please don't bite me". It was tasting me with it's tongue. Well, I survived that and we then went to an alligator farm. We all got separated and I ran into two animal care takers. They asked me if I wanted to help them put all of the Pythons into the exhibit. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I couldn't pass it up. The Python's ranged in size from 13 - 30 feet and weighed 75 - 200 lbs. They pulled a 75 pounder albino (yellow and white) Python out and put him around my neck and I asked them to take a picture of me, because no one would believe me, so I needed proof. I continued to pull out all of the Pythons (even the meanest one) and would put them either into the water or on the ground in the exhibit. There I was, standing in an enclosure with a dozen or more giant snakes. I loved it! I have an 8 x 10 framed photo of me and the snake. And, every time someone sees it, they all say they would never do it, even my daughter who loves snakes. Really big guys would ask me how I did it, because they were afraid. I really have to laugh, because for someone, like me, who has anxiety and panic attacks, I find it hilarious that I can play with giant snakes, yet fear panic attacks in the shower and a car ride. It makes me feel brave and proud of myself. It is just the most ironic thing ever. Oh, and the most important part, was my mindset. I knew that, because two men were going into the pen with me, that if a snake tried to suffocate or eat me, that it would only be a temporary discomfort, because they would be able to get it off of me. I would not do what I did, alone, because I wouldn't have been able to fight off one by myself. A side note: I read that after exercising you have the same physical sensations as a panic attack, but you do not associate the activity with anxiety and panic (I understand some people avoid exercise, because of physical sensations. We all have different triggers, but are in the same boat). Because, I love snakes, I didn't respond with anxiety or panic to the situation.
Also, this summer, I learned how to knit in the round with 4 double pointed needles. I found a pattern for a mole hill mountain and I knitted one for me and my Mom. It reminds us to make mole hills out of mountains, instead of the other way around. It puts things into perspective and is a visual reminder to not make things a bigger deal than they really are.
