Doing something for the first time is scary. I saw the uneasiness and fear in my daughter’s eyes this past weekend before she ran her first 5k. She did it though. She faced her anxiety in the face and ran a 5k. Her face was beaming as she crossed the finish line. It definitely was a proud mama moment.

I admire my daughter for conquering her fear and doing new things even if they are hard. Putting myself out there is something I struggled with my whole life. Even in grade school I was afraid to try anything new, even something as little as going to a friend’s house for the first time.

All too often instead of facing my fear I would succumb to it. I put so many limits on myself because of my social anxiety and fear of the unknown. I lived a lot of my life on the sidelines cheering others on but too afraid to go after my own dreams.

Lately though, I have been trying to get out of my comfort zone. I have been working on being true to myself and allowing myself to fail. I’ve been dusting myself off and trying again. I have been overcoming my awkwardness and being me.

Saying yes to new and scary things is a part of life. Each time I say yes that golf ball in my throat is a little smaller and my confidence grows. Life wasn’t meant to sit on the sidelines. I know it’s cliché to say but if I can do it anyone can.