Last week, despite my lifelong fear of snakes, I faced my phobia head-on, during the 4th of July celebrations. Known as ophidiophobia, my intense fear of snakes has been a constant presence in my life, rooted deeply in my upbringing.
Growing up in the village in Western Kenya, snakes were seen as bad omen, and are still viewed that way.
Society taught us that man and snake could never coexist. Whenever a snake was spotted, all the men would gather, hunt it down, and kill it. I had no idea that some snakes were harmless, and I bet the majority of villagers didn’t know either.”
This fear extended to all kinds of snakes, from egg-layers to live-birthing vipers. I hate snakes—the egg-laying kind, the babes-in-a-sack kind, but especially the vipers.
Last week, however, I decided to confront my fear with the help of a huge chunk of Craig whiskey. My brother-in-law, who rears several kinds of snakes—amounting to thousands—played a crucial role in this endeavor.
The snake business is a multi-million-dollar industry here, with the average snake priced between $7,000 to $10,000, I’m still perplexed when he highlighted the economic significance of snake rearing.
Having avoided the barn where my brother-in-law operates for a long time, I finally took the plunge last Thursday. I had been postponing going near the barn, let alone touching the snakes. But last Thursday, it happened.
In a moment of courage (and perhaps a little liquid courage), my brother-in-law carefully wrapped a snake around my neck.I must admit it was nerve-wracking. I think I sobered up instantly! The experience, though lasting only 10 to 15 seconds, felt like an eternity. I was shaking, having a snake on my neck!!
Despite my fears, I managed to confront my ophidiophobia, even if just for a few seconds. It was a small step, but a significant one in my journey to overcoming ophidiophobia.
This personal victory highlights the importance of facing one’s fears and the unexpected ways one might find the courage to do so. Well, I might not do it again, but this brave act marks a new chapter in this ongoing battle with ophidiophobia.
