Daily Gratitude: It’s natural for us to steer away from frightening things. That’s called survival. However, what my brain thinks is frightening is not necessarily the same thing your brain does. We interpret everything based on our previous experiences. Even though I’m 76 years old, my brain is still using its childhood data bank to make decisions about events, objects and people. Since my childhood was filled with daily fear and uncertainty, it has programmed itself to think that many things are dangerous and therefore frightening. I have worked hard to reprogram many of the data points but so many still exist – primarily because I was never brave enough to step into those scary places to find out they weren’t actually scary. This is one regret I have. I could have experienced so much in such a different way had I learned to do that. I encourage all of you to do this. I am enjoying the process now as I attempt to conquer the darkness. I can tell you that your life will be more enriched if you try it. And what you do in the endeavor will be a great model for those who watch you. That is the mark of leadership.