Things in Neverland are never exactly quiet, and I have some fun PJ posts in the works that I will hopefully get out in the next couple of days. But right now, I’ve been given a really exciting professional opportunity and I’ve been devoting some of my regular blogging time to making it happen.

I can’t share details yet, but the big picture is that an essay I wrote for work has been picked up by a national industry publication – yay! This is my fourth publication, and the first for a feature article with my very own byline, so it’s still a novelty and very exciting for me. That would have been plenty to feel good about, but then my contact approached me and asked if I would consider being a panelist for an audio conference on the topic I wrote about.

Good thing I read “Lean In” this summer, because my first thought was “Who, me? I’m no expert, I just think thoughts and write them down. And what if people don’t like them? What if all the questions are: what the hell does this chick know about anything?” And then I remembered…

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Well, if I wasn’t afraid (scared to death, terrified, etc) I would say yes and do my research and stand by what I wrote. So I did. I said yes. And now there’s an appointment sitting on my calendar with “Panelist Instructions for Webinar” attached to it. And I’m still scared. Actually, I’m a little afraid just to tell you all that this is happening – I mean, what if they figure out I’m just a girl with an opinion and call the whole thing off?! Or even worse, what if ::gasp:: someone actually listens? Then where will I be?

Deep breath. Maybe by the time it happens, I’ll stop being so scared and, in the most famous catchphrase of all, just do it.