I’ve always been fiercely independent and resistant to the idea that I couldn’t go where I wanted, when I wanted, but then I was mugged and beaten fairly severely by a group of 4 women who had mistaken me for someone else they had a grudge against. The very random nature of the attack made me fearful for a while, but after some time I lost most of that fear. I try not to do anything downright stupid - like wandering about in a known drug transaction area after dark - or walking through vacant areas with derelict buildings that can attract a transient, and often drug-addled population. But the thing that makes me feel safer than any other is my 85 lb female dog who is all muscle and ultra protective. No, she wouldn’t be able to stop a bullet, but she is large, black, and bristles if she senses me tensing up at all. She was a street dog before I found her and adopted her and she would take on a fight if she had to in order to protect her alpha. People don’t tend to mess with me or even look at me for more than a glance when I’m out walking my dog. This is the same dog that would happily let you pet her as long as she could feel my comfort level with the person in front of me.
n/m - wrong thread - sorry. 