What a great post! Welcome Cyberpearl. It's nice to have such a thoughtful person join in and start a topic.

It is interesting our fear of the dark. My son is afraid of the dark and strangely enough likes to have the curtains open when he sleeps. But I think it is because the when the drapes billow in the breeze they appear to be a figure to him. Still, it is interesting to think that maybe he'd rather have a clear view of outside.

I love your analogy of looking and "seeing" what is there despite the discomfort of darkness, not hiding in the box (closing the curtains), and by seeing you gain knowledge and by gaining knowledge you overcome fear. I can see how this way of thinking freed you from a bondage to a partner that was keeping you down. Inspirational.