Bear-less in Yosemite

A few years back, I was lucky enough to take a three-day trip to Yosemite National Park, California

I arrived fearful of seeing a bear.

I stayed fearful of seeing a bear.

I left disappointed that I hadn’t seen a bear.

Black bears are part of Yosemite. They literally come with the territory. Only when I was no longer at risk did I realise how much I’d wanted to see one, and I felt somewhat cheated.

It’s not that wishing to see a bear would have made it happen – black bears naturally avoid areas where there are people.

And it’s not that I had wanted a close encounter – far from it! In any case, a black bear is unlikely to approach unless they are after your food. And it’s unlikely that they will be aggressive unless protecting their food or their cubs.

It’s that I had let my fear of meeting a bear somewhat mar my experience of the park and all its wonder.

I had focused (sensibly) on taking all the advised precautions and on knowing what to do if a bear did approach. But I didn’t then think: ‘Ok. You've managed the risk. Now stop catastrophising and go for it!’

🤔 Shall I reveal this as an analogy (although it is also a true story)?

Ok.

Stepping into the wide, wild spaces of new career territory can be scary. You can mitigate the worst of the risks, but if you don’t then accept a little uncertainty and thrill as part of the experience, you may as well have done the equivalent of staying home and looking at glossy photos of Yosemite in a travel book (an approach to world exploration actually advocated by my late mother).

So, give me what comes with the territory: I am more fearless these days, though still bear-less.

What about you? Are you fearful of the bear? Or are you ready to tread new ground and be thrilled by all that comes with it?

Photo (by Y S on Unsplash) shows a bear I didn’t see.