When I was in grade school, there was a school choir. I LOVED singing and REALLY wanted to be in the choir.

In the 4th grade, I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker that anyone who was in the choir was to dress in blue and white and show up at a specific location for a performance later that week.

Not knowing you had to be at least in the 6th grade to be in the choir, and of course to rehearse a LOT before a performance, somehow in my 10-year-old head, I interpreted the announcement to mean that if you *wanted* to perform that night, to wear blue and white and show up.

I went home and told my mother...and somehow she bought in to the idea too. She dressed in a beautiful blue skirt and white top, and the entire family headed to the Mall (Stern's in Paramus, NJ) to see me perform in the choir.

My mom & sister thought it was hysterical, but I was SO mortified when we got there and realized that you had to be at least 12...to audition for the choir...and to practice for months before you perform. I felt SO silly wearing my fancy outfit with my hair in a fancy ponytail just right, and my entire family there.

My shame at being an outsider - and a silly, confused outsider at that - was immense. I didn't even want to go to school the next day, though looking back now I bet no one else even noticed.

For a while after the incident I was positive that when the time came in 6th grade that there was no way I'd audition for the choir.

But after a month or two, I started to take seriously again that I sang in the shower every night, that I hummed tunes wherever I went...and the fear of being a fool didn't feel as strong anymore as the passion and love of singing inside me.

I auditioned in the 6th grade and got in (everybody got in, really)...and FINALLY before graduation in the 8th grade got a solo song in a performance. That solo meant EVERYTHING to me. In retrospect, it was really the first time I got to shine on stage...a setup for my absolute love of facilitation and public speaking now. chic graduation ceremony collections

And to think: if I would have let my fear and shame get in the way of auditioning....I wouldn't have had the privilege of the experience.

That's why in my business now, I challenge my fear whenever I'm aware of it. I refuse to let me fear keep me from experiencing what I'm meant to experience.