What are the risks of throwing away your fears? – Love Guru

Among the many short articles featured on the monthly journal of Dubai Health Care City, the fearless woman hiding in the name “SM”, ignited my curiosity. How could someone ever live free of fear? I was glad Science Now has  a longer version of the story.

SM doesn’t fear snakes, tarantulas, and horror films. Also, she couldn’t read faces that express fear. Perhaps you’d say you could do the same, but the scientists behind the study have conducted more experiments to prove SM doesn’t feel fear. They found out the cause just recently: her amygdalae (singular:amygdala) were damaged.

Isn’t she enviable?

If I could borrow her disabled amygdala for a day, I would have this “to-do” list:

1. Refuse corporate slavery.

2. Speak truthfully- at all times, at all cost – even if it means losing my job.

3. Skydiving.

4. Ride the roller-coasters with eyes open wide.

5. Pursue any of the lofty degrees: law, medicine, language, or parenting.

6. Wear bikinis.

7. Spend my entire monthly salary on a back-pack tour.

8. Roller skate or ride a bike going to work.

9. Examine everyone I come across the street.

I wish to add more but there’s one thing I dislike about a dysfunctional amygdala – the inability to guard one’s personal space, which I’m not willing to risk for above mentioned fearless feats.