I decided to get BOLD! and get over it.

An opportunity came my way to be part of a dog sled adventure and I jumped at it. I loved being outside in the winter, just not at night. Maybe this would be my cure.

The adventure none of us expected came the first night while crossing a frozen lake. Suddenly the dogs turned on their owner (our fearless leader who was mushing at the time) and literally began biting and clawing thru his layers of clothing. Blood poured onto the otherwise pristine frozen lake.

The musher explained what was happening: the dogs' paws were hitting water below the snow, as the sun had melted the snow during the day and was only partially frozen over. Altho the lake was solid ice, the dog's went into a fight or flight response as though they were drowning.

With no time to make a plan, we began throwing the dogs' food off the sleds…as far away from the scene as we could get it. Thankfully, all it took was one dog breaking away toward the food supply and the others followed in crazed passion.

It was a stunning opening to an incredible adventure.

Our leader toughed it out with bandanas wrapping his wounds. The rest of us were no longer city slickers, now full-fledged wilderness warriors. And yes, sleeping outside in tents with the moon glowing off the snow and wolves howling in the distance, I finally found beauty rather than fear in the dark of night.

The BOLD! Factor in action...find the courage to do whatever it is you are afraid to do!

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