Carlos Foglia meditates on fear, one thought at a time.
I fear that we are all becoming emotionless robots.
I fear that we are all losing touch with human interaction.
I fear that the power of a handshake is lost upon us.
I fear that eye contact is now reserved for facetime and skype.
I fear that we’ve become incredibly less social while becoming entrenched in the quest to be social media savvy.
I fear the sad fact that I’ve tweeted more times than I’ve talked today.
I fear that the above statements are my generation’s version of “When I was your age, I walked barefoot, uphill both ways to school, in the snow.”
I fear that I’m unsuccessfully trying to bridge the massive gap between the 20-somethings and the 40-somethings I interact with daily.
I fear the sad fact that a professional sports figure gets arrested every week for battery/drugs/theft/guns/gambling/etc…
I fear that we put too much stock in the role model-worthiness of sports superstars and celebrities as opposed to public servants and good parents.
I fear that we’ve demonized both sides of the aisle in government depending on which time zone one is in.
I fear that the agenda of the privileged few on Capitol Hill will lead to devastating consequences for the average American.
I fear that skinny jeans, unkempt facial hair, and plastic glasses are here to stay.
I fear that, like my father, I will occasionally judge people on how they look and dress.
I fear that, like my father, I will end up destitute and bedridden, in and out of a coma.
I fear that, unlike my father, I will end up alone without a wonderful family to support me during my last days.
I fear that my decision to follow a career in the arts will define me—as a success or as a failure.
I fear that being a “jack of all trades” and master of none will be my uprising and simultaneous downfall.
I fear that we’ve lost the ability to have discourse, and take positive action in order to affect change. #OWS.
I fear that #occupy is now more important than an occupation.
I fear that seafood in Southern California will always pale in comparison to seafood in New England.
I fear that the reign of dominance for Boston sports teams is coming to an abrupt, and unfortunate, end.
I fear for the lack of perspective. Complaining about sports, food and hipsters when there is mass genocide happening right now seems absurd.
I fear that I won’t be able to open up after she ripped my heart in half.
I fear that she wont be able to open up after I ripped her heart in half.*
(* Those are 2 different women.)
I fear that what goes around ALWAYS comes around.
I fear that I’ll always compare “them” to you.
I fear that children aren’t being taught proper handwriting and instead are versed in qwerty.
I fear that the notions of hard work and American values have been replaced with the notion of making it rich, quick.
I fear deadlines.
I fear folding laundry because I am so terrible at it.
I fear that you’ll order your steak well done and ask for ketchup.
I fear that you’ll tip less than 20%.
I fear that you’ll never forget me.
I fear traffic on the 101 and the 405.
I fear being looked up to by my younger peers because I am so incredibly flawed.
I fear that the quality of life is measured today by friend requests, retweets and blog entries as opposed to smiles, laughter and actual touch.
I fear that scum like Sandusky and Fine will cast a shadow over the beauty of team sports.
I fear that Joe Paterno’s 60 years of service have been wiped out by the lack of one fucking phone call he didn’t make 10 years ago.
I fear that I let you down when I moved across the country.
I fear that my roots are planted in so many corners of the world, making them oxymoronic.
I fear that I’ll hate my mother because she left when I was four, and not learn to forgive her before it’s too late.
I fear that people are too busy being busy.
I fear that we’re too scared to let it go for a minute, sit back, and realize how lucky we all are. No matter which % you belong to.
I fear that people never tell you what they fear.
I fear the reality that love without money will never work.
I fear the fact that prostitution will always exist.
I fear that there is more coverage allotted to Lindsay Lohan’s latest hit and run/drug arrest/vagina shot/Playboy spread than Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman. Who? My point exactly.
I fear that female activism is labeled as butch feminism in this country.
I fear that we enjoy mocking Tim Tebow’s faith because we condemn it for being too “in your face.” Meanwhile, you’ve clicked through 200 dating site/ESPN/hair product/magazine ads since you logged on today.
I fear that religion has … you know what? Not even worth it.
I fear that Angelina Jolie gets Googled more than Angela Merkel.
I fear that there is a child. Starving. Somewhere near me.
I fear that being Argentinian/Italian doesnmm’t matter since I look Middle Eastern.
I fear that being Argentinian/Italian doesn’t matter since I live in southern California and therefore must be Mexican.
I fear that when I fly people think they aren’t as safe.
I fear that I haven’t been called “sand nigger” for the last time.
I fear that unalienable rights actually only apply to certain men.
I fear that you’ll read this and forget about it as soon as you click on the next link that grabs your attention.
I fear that you won’t tell someone you love them today.
I fear that I won’t ask you out. Doesn’t matter if you say yes or no.
I fear that I won’t call you back.
I fear that you’ll end up alone and blame me forever.
I fear that I’ll never be a missed connection on Craigslist.
I fear that I missed the connection of a lifetime.
I fear that you won’t smile at someone today or
Say “Thank you.”
Say “Good morning!”
Ask “How are you?” (and mean it.)
Hold the door open.
Walk on the outside.
But that you will poke. like. #hashtag. share. +1, and retweet like a champ.
That, as trite as it seems, is my biggest fear of all.
—
photo: randychiu / flickr
well said.
I fear that I will not have the courage to say, “I can’t / don’t want to do this any more.”
I fear I won’t find someone who is willing to connect fully.