Overcoming the fear to fly

For those that do not know me as well as others, about 10 years ago I developed a fear of flying. Me, afraid to fly? Made about as much sense as fish fearing water, birds fearing heights, a child fearing play. Having taken my first flight in 1979 and having been bitten by the traveling bug at an early age, the idea of being afraid to get on an airplane was just ludicrous. And to pinpoint that exact moment....for the last 10 years, believe me, I have tried. I have asked myself a number of questions- was it the flight where the landing gear wouldn't come out and we got 20 feet from the runway and had to take back off into the air only to have firetrucks waiting for us alongside the runway once the landing gear finally worked and we were able to land? Or was it the severe thunderstorm we flew into upon landing during another flight, one that led the plane to erupt in applause when the plane had safely landed on the ground? Or perhaps it was all the ridiculously long flights I had to weather across the Pacific to visit my parents? Whatever situation it was that triggered my fear, I have since done silly things like delaying getting on an international flight, stranding myself in LAX overnight (did you know that airlines can get you a "passenger in distress" rate for airport hotels? Yup, learned that one that trip!), refusing to take a plane back across country once I got to my destination forcing me to take the Greyhound bus from San Diego, California back to Norfolk, Virginia (for those wondering, it took 4 days and it was absolutely the most refreshing shower I have EVER taken in my life when I returned home), and generally avoiding any trip or reason that would require me to board an airplane (how does one satisfy the love and NEED to travel when one will not board a plane?).
But I am happy to report that after 3 and a half years, I got on an airplane last week. Better yet, I also utilized my return ticket and flew home at the end of my trip! I have to say that the experience was absolutely EXHILARATING!!!! It was liberating, it was freeing, it was exactly what I needed to do to release myself from the restricting chains of this fear, and to begin the process of facing other fears that may be hindering me in my life. A wise man told me that our fears are rarely actually a fear of that specific circumstance or event, but a fear of being exposed. Let me elaborate. When one has a fear of flying, it's not actually the flight or the plane that is causing that fear. It's the fear of your reaction to this event, the fear of not having control and being exposed for all to see. So do I fear being exposed? Mmmm, not sure how to answer this, I feel like I am pretty much a "what you see is what you get" kind of gal, but the not being in control TERRIFIES me. Some may go so far as to call me a control freak, and I probably wouldn't argue.
To avoid the long process of self psycho-analyzing myself, I will stop here and give myself credit (and do the little celebratory dance) for (hopefully) overcoming this fear of flying. I have gotten my wings back and can not wait for the next opportunity to fly, no, SOAR!