Growing Pains

My palms were sweating and my heart was racing as I approached the fair ground buildings. I had my photos ready to submit, but were they good enough? Would people look at them and think to themselves, or worse, whisper to a friend, "What was she thinking? Does she actually think these are good?"

I pushed forward and entered the building against the will of my mind and body. After entering the building I see many others who are also entering their photos. They seem confident. Oh their photos are absolutely beautiful. "What am I doing here," I think to myself forcing my feet to take another step. "I am putting myself out there for judgement and against others who are obviously so much more experienced than me.

I take another step up to the table and begin the registration of my photos. My hands are shaking and I seem to have forgotten which category to list.

"Why am I so scared!" I scream to myself. I continue to fill out my stuff, as another participant approaches me. "Your photos are amazing" she tells me. At this point I am shocked, because she has what I would call an "amazing" photo.

Once again, I ask myself, "Why am I so scared?"

I proceed to enter the other photo and move on to enter my last photo into the agriculture contest. More compliments received.

By the time I left the building, I was exhilerated and yes still shaking.

I have come to the conclusion that I am nuts. My sweet husband assures me that I am not crazy, just a "sissy". Well, call me what you will, it was just crazy that I would be so afraid of something so simple.

However, I have trimphed. Whether I win or not, is not important. The important thing is that I conquered my fear. Well maybe not "conquered", but deffinately faced and

persevered! And second, I shared my fear with all of you. (which was not easy either)

From this I shall grow:)

Sincerely,

Mandy

Here are some snapshots of the three photos that I submitted. It was a painful process choosing only a couple, but at $8.00 a piece for printing, matting and such, I could only choose a few.