stop being afraid of the dark

I have slept with a night light on as long as I can remember.
Even now when go to visit my parents, my mother quietly comes in to turn off the light (she cannot imagine how anyone can sleep with the lights on). And no matter how deep my sleep is I wake up because of the darkness. Over the years a childhood fear has lessened to be more of a discomfort and sleeping with a light on has become a habit.
Every month or so I tell myself I am going to turn off the light before I sleep and do it. It takes about 15 minutes for my resolve to break. I never find the need for a light to be on when I know someone else is sleeping in the room with me.
Today this habit has come to symbolize all the little things I know I must get over to improve my way of living. Tonight I am sleeping in the dark.