I love that question. I love to really think about my life choices. If I had the confidence when I was entering college that I have now, my life would have been a bit different. If I had someone to push me along and support me, I wouldn’t have given up so easily. I remember walking out of an engineering class and deciding that it was too much work for me. The class had 500 students, the professor didn’t know me, and the teaching assistants barely spoke English. Looking back, quitting engineering was so stupid. I should have been able to see
the future for women in engineering and stuck it out.
So many women are afraid. Afraid to make a mistake, afraid to do the wrong thing, afraid of being perceived the wrong way. Afraid of being a terrible wife, mother, daughter, sister, and/or friend. Afraid of rejection, afraid of conflict, afraid of rocking the boat, afraid of failure. Failure is good, failure means that you are trying. Failure teaches us lessons. I fail miserably every time I sit down at a pottery wheel and attempt to throw a pot. I make a mess and end up with mountains of wet clay. It’s okay, I persevere and eventually create a pot or bowl or mug. Everything that I create from clay has mistakes or flaws but that’s okay. I have learned to embrace the flaws, be thankful for my mistakes, and move on. Everything that I do, can be done better. Striving to do better, know more, learn more, share more is part of the journey. The day that I stop making mistakes is the day that I dread.
Today is the day to get rid of your fear, accept your mistakes and move on.
· Ask for a raise
· Climb a mountain
· Ski down a black diamond trail
· Go whitewater rafting
· Jump out of a plane
· Get a divorce
· Get married
· Have a baby
· Have another baby
· Quit your job
· Find a better job
· Go back to school
· Move to another city, town or country
· Visit another country
· Hitchhike across the country
· Sell your house
· Start your own business
Get over it! Stop being afraid. What is the worst thing that can happen when you face your fear?
You get fired. So what, go find another job.
You piss someone off. So what, life goes on.
Take care of yourself, mentally and physically, and everything else will fall into place.
Happy Thanksgiving.