As I leave the gym midday I slowly walk towards my car in the parking garage. I take this same walk to my car at least four times a week, parking in almost the exact same place each time. Usually glancing down at my phone, gripping my keys not paying much attention to my surroundings, except when crossing the street towards my car.

However this particular day was different. My phone was in my backpack and my keys zipped away to the side. I drank my water and thought about heading to work, and maybe arriving a few minutes earlier than usual. As I approached my usual spot, I caught glimpse of a man who appeared to be hovering in the area of my vehicle. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and sent a shiver down my spine. I reached to the side to grab my keys where I had a small pocket knife attached to the ring. As if this would be of much help. I wondered if I should walk back into the gym and wait to go towards the parking garage when there were more people around. Or do I walk towards my car, mind my own business and not worry about why this man was near my otherwise safe parking space. Before I could make a decision the man saw me and said "excuse me ma'am!" Hesitantly I said "yes?" Gripping my pocket knife even tighter. He said "Is this your car?" I didn't know whether or not to answer because it was in fact my car. Keeping my distance I said "yes it is". The three seconds that it took for the man to respond to me felt like an eternity. Finally, I saw the corner of his mouth begin to speak. The knots in my stomach grew bigger as I waited for what he was about to say. "I see that you have a Bridgewater College bumper sticker! This is my daughter's number one choice for college and I just wondered if I could ask you a few questions about the school"?

I know what you are probably thinking. Because in all honesty, I am thinking it too. Why was I so worked up about a man who wanted to ask me a few questions about the school I go to according to a bumper sticker on my car? I wish I knew the answer. Maybe it's the world that we live in. Perhaps the media blowing stories out of proportion. Or maybe, it's me. I always tend to automatically assume worst case scenario. I know that humans have a tendency to believe that bad things are going to happen to them. However, in my opinion that is still not an excuse to be fearful.

I guess the moral of this story is simple. I need to learn to not always assume that something bad is going to happen to me. It's okay to be cautious of my surroundings, but I don't have to be fearful. After all, it was only about a bumper sticker.