Once a year, for the past four years or so, I come to Quebec City (which is certainly one of the most magical places in North America--yes, this is an advertising plug!) to interpret at a 2 hour meeting.
Once a year, for the past four years, I have felt utterly terrified. It's a high-level meeting and tends to be technical and we receive no information on the exact topic. Every year, there are vocabulary surprises. For the past three years, I have hired a very competent colleague here in Quebec City as my team mate.
This year, for the first time, I didn't feel absolutely out of control scared. Yes, we did get lobbed a few terminological bombs but we worked together as a team, helping each other out of some rather tight spots.
This is the first year that I haven't sat at the airport feeling like a total failure. I feel calm and good and boy, does it feel nice.
Last year, I posted after the same meeting, sitting here in the airport. I quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, and she's worth quoting again today:
"Do one thing every day that scares you."
Do you?
Bad and Getting Worse
1 day ago
I am glad your meeting went well. It makes sense to have a co-pilot:)
ReplyDeleteI know I tend to take the path of least resistance a lot of the time, (my cosy rut is a nice place!) so I don't do many things which scare me. Having said that, I am quite an intrepid explorer and always up for a adventure. I am curious so not frightened of putting out feelers on occasions. I like new challenges and experiences.
I'll have to think about things that 'scare' me.
Very little that can be done scares me. I live in a situation where challenges are everywhere and life is unpredictable (as I live in a foreign country and people's responses to my foreign presence are often strange and troubling or troublesome). For other people, just walking out the door might be a fearsome experience, but I can't live with fear every day so I just push it aside and get on with it.
ReplyDeleteFear is mostly just a bunch of creepy thoughts made up by my mind that my body then tends to believe is real. So, mostly a waste of energy! I notice this negative emotion but seldom make a problem out of it unless I'm over tired (and thus not alert) OR there is a useful action I can take, such as backing slowly away from the skunk that I surprised on my morning walk. :)
ReplyDeleteFear is a great teacher when I stay detached from it.
-Rebecca
First: what a great feeling to be a success! Success begets success! Facing your fears is very important. I face them all the time, not daily but all the time. For example: getting up to speak to large groups, asking questions of all kinds of people and in all kinds of situations, face my own fears of binging. Nothing to fear but fear itself. Stare fear in the face! That s what I say! . Michele at http://ruminationsasiuncoverthewomanwithin.blogspot.com/
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