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Tuesday 8 September 2015

BY INVITATION ….. WHAT ARE WE AFRAID OF ? ……….



By Invitation is back after the Summer break.



Our subject for September is ' What are we afraid of ? '

Considering the plight of the thousands of refugees fleeing their homes in desperate need and who are trying to find some kind of reasonable life , putting themselves and their families through all sorts of dangers and fears, fleeing conflict and abuse, it seems rather pitiful to start spouting on that September spiders give me the heebie-jeebies 

BUT

I am committed to our By Invitation series so here's my take on it ….. 



FEAR of FLYING ? ….. almost certainly the safest form of transport. The average flier has about a 1 in 14 million chance of dying ….. those are good odds !!



You should fear driving ….. you are about 2,500 times more likely to die on the road than in a plane !



FEAR of NUCLEAR POWER ? ….. nuclear power has killed fewer than 15,000 people in it's history …..



You should fear coal power ….. according to one study, 100,000 people a year in India alone are killed from air pollution !!!



Are you fearful that you are swallowing spiders while you sleep ? You are almost definitely swallowing zero spiders while you sleep ….. spiders aren't likely to want to enter a black hole emitting warm air { if you'll pardon the expression !! }



Although it seems that hitchhiking encounters end in disaster, fears are exaggerated. 



Do you have a fear of bacteria ? 
We seem to be cleaning and scrubbing everything in sight and not all bacteria is harmful. Less than 1% of bacteria carries disease and quite a bit of it is actually good for you.



Despite some claims, spontaneous combustion is almost definitely not real !! The ' almost ' only exists as it's very hard to prove that it has never happened. 
Even if spontaneous combustion were some real phenomenon, you still shouldn't be afraid of it. There is only one case reported per year so the likelihood of you going up in flames without warning is virtually zero.


A FEAR of SHARKS ? ….. 
There have been between 4 and 13 confirmed shark deaths worldwide, per year since 2005 …..



You should actually be fearful of :

Icicles
hot dogs
obesity
lightening
texting
hippos
volcanoes
shopping on black friday
falling out of bed

as the above kill more people than sharks !!!!






Now, just what are you all afraid of ?

To see what other members of the By Invitation group are afraid of, Marsha has all the links.















image 1: via valentinakallias, image 2: via willyvanrooy, image 3: via pinterest, image 4:  via piccsycooling, image 5: via blogs.ft, image 6: via modelkj6.rssing, image 7: via pick pocket design, image 8: via vogue, image 9: via moon siren, image 10: via sir lounge, image 11: via elephant journal



Jackie

55 comments:

  1. Great post Jackie.
    Apart from the shark pic. Oh that poor bird!

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    1. Sorry about that Jessica ……. I should have cropped the picture !! Let's just think that the bird flew away just in time !! XXXX

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  2. I have to admit to a fear of Snakes, even though our local ones aren't venomous. However I have no fear of our huge Hornets that can kill with just two stings.

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    1. I don't mind snakes, hornets or wasps but I'm not keen on those MASSIVE spiders that decide to visit me at this time of year. There's no rhyme nor reason for our fears sometimes, is there Cro ? XXXX

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    2. You might have more people opting for 'Fear of Flying' after yesterday's BA troubles.

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  4. I'm afraid that my hair will never be as nice as the hair of that blue-clad woman with the spray. I'm just about to scroll up to look enviously at her again.

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    1. Your hair is far superior Mise but, I feel that, like the blue clad lady, we should add a diamond encrusted tiger slide to our locks when cleaning around the toilet rim !!!! XXXX

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  5. Hello Jacqueline,
    We should be able to sleep peacefully tonight and all thanks to your putting it in perspective.
    Wishing you a glorious day
    Helen x

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    1. I did feel that, compared to many, our fears are pretty insignificant Helen, so, I felt that I had to mention that.
      But, our own fears are real too.
      Wishing you a fearless week !! XXXX

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    2. I absolutely agree with Helen. I really appreciated your take on this very challenging theme. And yes, certainly for your opening paragraph as well, no matter how much I wish that there was not a refugee crisis at all but that the world could be at greater peace...

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    3. Dear Heather,
      I felt that, due to the subject matter, I just had to write that first paragraph. The refugee crisis is so awful that it puts our own fears into perspective, doesn't it ?
      But, that said, it doesn't stop us having our own fears that are very real to us too.
      Happy Tuesday Heather. XXXX

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  6. Hello Jackie!!
    Heights - that is what I'm afraid of. I used to be afraid of being homeless (when I was a single mom) but that's not really a fear anymore since my marriage, and my son is grown up. and doing well with his life. And I also thank you for putting it into perspective! xo

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    1. Hi Carol …. yes, I think that sometimes, we do had to put things into perspective ….. we all have fears, of course but, nothing like many thousands have, although, our own fears are real enough.
      Have a great week Carol and don't go up any tall buildings !!!!! XXXX

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  7. Have lots of fears...I tend to be fairly anxious (OK according to my kids VERY).....hate flying but its a necessary evil, being claustrophobic, being trapped in any way is a huge fear.

    And not being able to "squeeze in" all my dreams by the time I am at an age to really still enjoy it all scares the dickens out of me so I am trying my best to roll full steam ahead! Fun post......

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    1. We can't help the way we are can we ? Flying must be really difficult for you …… it's a tiny space even for the non-claustrophobic !!
      I'm sure that you will do your upmost to fulfil all of your dreams and enjoy squeezing them all in !!!! XXXX

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  8. Perfect post Jacqueline. I fear many of the above, though I know they are rare. Actually, my husband's aunt's husband, spontaneously combusted. That's what the police said anyway. And, I hitchhiked my hippie self to go meet my future husband and we've been together for 43 years. It was scary though.

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    1. Oh my goodness Donna …… how awful. She must be the 1%.
      …… and very brave of you to hitchhike but it was well worth it for 43 years worth of marriage.
      Hope that the house move is going well and that your husband is feeling a little better. XXXX

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  9. So timely Jackie - I actually fell out of bed this morning trying to get to my phone across the room to shut the alarm off! Never done that before - it was quite a scare but thankfully I survived, and I do have carpet on the bedroom floor which softened the tumble!
    I do not swim with sharks, but have boated through lots of hippos on the Okavango Delta in Botswana and on the Zambezi in Zimbabwe - thankfully without a problem. Hippos themselves are not that dangerous, they just pull you under and drown you, then the worst part - the alligators eat you!

    Well dear, you've given us much to ponder here - thank God I don't eat hot dogs - one less thing to worry about!
    Great post and fabulous photos -
    Hugs - Mary

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    1. Oh no Mary …… that's not good. It just shows that the statistics are right ….. I'm glad that you survived !!
      How wonderful to have boated through hippos …. I think that I might have been a little scared but would love the experience.
      …… and yes, no hotdogs and watch out for icicles Mary !!!! XXXX

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  10. BRILLANT...........truly BRILLIANT!LOVE YOUR Odds and your photos!!!!XX

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    1. Thanks Elisabeth ….. loved your post too !! XXXX

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  11. Fear is our worst enemy, isn't it? I fear flying because I am claustrophobic. I just cannot do it. I want to open a window! I do not fear death but I fear suffering. So I hope when it is my time to go that it is quick!

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    1. It must be hard being claustrophobic Kerrie …. such a terrible feeling but we can't help the way we are….. I guess there are worse things.
      ….. and, no one wants to suffer, do they so I think that we all have that fear. XXXX

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  12. Hi Jackie,
    come diceva Mark Twain:
    Il coraggio è resistenza alla paura e dominio della paura, ma non assenza di paura.
    E' vero anche per noi? Bel post e belle immagini.
    Ciao XXXO

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    1. Abbiamo tutti bisogno di tanto coraggio Eleanor alcuni più di altri.
      Grazie mille per la tua bella commento. XXXX

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  13. Wowwww love this post Jacky....i am afraid for.....mmmmmm.....thinking.....i think spiders....yes yak...and war..That is not my thing i am affraid love from me Ria x

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    1. Thanks Ria …… why do we have a fear of spiders ? I don't like them but they would do us no harm and we have nothing to fear from them !! Silly, isn't it ?!!
      Have a lovely week Ria. XXXX

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  14. Clever, wise, and challenging to our senses and sensibilities -- not to mention responsibilities to our fellow human beings and the planet!

    This is a marvelous post, start to finish.

    xo

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    1. That is so kind but isn't a patch on your brilliant post…. as always !!
      … but, thank you for your lovely comment. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. XXXX

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  15. I love reading the stats you found because as a slight germiphobe I now can worry a little less…happy Tuesday!

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    1. You can now be at ease when you clean the toilet !!!!!
      Have a great week. XXXX

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  16. I will admit... I am afraid of sharks!!
    That's because I am an Aussie!
    Love your post xxv

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    1. Hi Vicki …… I'm not really keen on sharks either but I'm not likely to see many in the suburbs of London !!!
      Hope that you and yours are well and have had a lovely Summer. XXXX

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  17. Great post but I am having trouble thinking of anything I am afraid of - I am sure there must be something! Love that last pic of the hippos. I used to hitchhike all the time in the 60's with my friends and never considered whether it was safe or not.

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    1. I think that it's great that you are finding it hard to think of anything Elaine. I can't think of much myself.
      We used to hitchhike all the time too …. goodness knows who picked us up but, we survived !!! XXXX

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  18. You are SO wonderful! You are an artist in every sense of the word. How you find these amazing pictures that illustrate your story is what makes you so delightful. Of course, the entire world is watching the Middle East with all the problems. Those refugees need a safe haven, and all the countries should aid as much as they can. I am not afraid of much, but I worry about everything! What's the cure for that? love love love, J...

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    1. You're right Marsha ……. I think that we all worry about things more than fear them….. and there's no cure for it I'm afraid. I loved all the different posts on this subject, didn't you ? ….. we all always come up with something different don't we? XXXX

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  19. This is wonderful. I love all these stats! I think the uncropped shark picture is fab. The visual of living blissfully, being unaware of what horrors could befall us. Brilliant!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer …. it was a fun post wasn't it ? …… here's to next month's !! XXXX

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  20. I enjoyed reading your statistics Jackie! What I am most afraid of is that the we will destroy our beautiful planet....

    Madelief xox

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    1. Let's hope that we will look after the planet Madelief …… it is a beautiful place. XXXX

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  21. I'm so happy to have discovered your beautiful blog through the 'BIO' this month. Thank you kindly for the warm welcome to the group! I truly enjoyed your information and wit in this post. I AM afraid of Black Friday shopping-I truly am. ;) I look forward to following along and visiting you at 'Home'.
    xx, Heather

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  22. I'm so happy to have discovered your beautiful blog through the 'BIO' this month. Thank you kindly for the warm welcome to the group! I truly enjoyed your information and wit in this post. I AM afraid of Black Friday shopping-I truly am. ;) I look forward to following along and visiting you at 'Home'.
    xx, Heather

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    1. It's lovely to meet you too Heather ….. so nice to meet new bloggers and to have more in our BIO group.
      Have a lovely weekend. XXXX

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  23. The spider! I believe that it is what I hate most !

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    1. I'm with you Christelle ….. I'm not keen on spiders either but I know it's irrational !!!! XXXX

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  24. Hi Jackie, Sorry it has taken me a couple of days to visit you, I have been finishing a very demanding job for a client! I love the images you have picked. I must admit, I am scared of spiders as well, I was bitten by a very nasty Australian spider when I had my first child, 23 years ago, and I had to go to hospital every single day for over two months. It was just awful! And I'm very scared of snakes as well. Sending much love to you, xxx Coty

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  25. No need to be sorry Coty ……. real life is far more important than my silly old post !!!!
    No wonder you're scared of spiders after that experience. I don't like them and they've never done anything to me !!
    Sending love back and have a great weekend { hopefully without any sign of a spider !! } XXXX

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  26. Hello Jacqueline,
    you're one of my favorite bloggers. I love your style, photographs and your sense of humour. Always makes me smile. I have a similar clothing style as well, do you know the label Rundholz? Would love to hear from you. My blog is: www.crystallique.blogspot.com.
    Many greetings, Marjan

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    1. Hi Marjan,
      Thank you so much for such a lovely comment. I have not heard of Rundholtz but have just had a look and it is very me !!! ….. I think that I might be spending lots of money on their website !!!! XXXX

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  27. My two big fears are flying ( fear of heights) and spiders of a certain size. Bigger than a ten pence piece and I'm outta here! Xx

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  28. Hi Jackie...you always have such a fabulous take on our by invitation posts...brilliant! Love the images too; you're a STAR! I've been having a few problems since changing across to wordpress...lost followers :( my new url is http://catherinerobinsoncashmere.com/blog/ if you'd like to sign up for notifications again...be lovely to hear from you :) I'll definitely be joining our party next month! xx

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  29. You always find the best photo's to accompany your post Jackie! Difficult to say what I am afraid of....I think it must be small spaces. I don't like elevators and rooms where I cannot open a window :-) Not too keen on spiders either, but I have to say that I am getting used to them. Having no man around the house any more means that I am the one who has to get rid of them :-) The girls are both on the couch when they see one walking on the floor!!

    Have a lovely evening!

    Madelief x

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