Are we more or less fearful as we get older? I tend to
assume we become more fearful and that children are less fearful because their
parents protect them from harm. But is that true?
Actually there are plenty of things to be afraid of as a
child. School bullies, strict headmasters, violent men, vicious dogs,
thunderstorms, bad dreams, you name it.
I think we oldies don’t have more fears, just different
ones. I‘m afraid of living so long I run out of money. I’m afraid of
thuggish-looking men. I’m afraid of doing something careless when I’m driving.
I’m afraid of saying something stupid or embarrassing.
Of course my childhood is so far away that it’s hard to recall
any particular fears. I was scared of my bad-tempered father and scared of a
local boy who used to taunt me as I walked past, and yes, I was scared of
school bullies. Other than that, I can’t remember any other fears.
I’m a bit dubious about people who say they don’t have any
fears. Can that really be true? In this dangerous world we inhabit nowadays,
how could they be so blissfully immune?
