Time to Stand Up!

I knew the time would come. It always seems to regardless of what we do to avoid making a stand and making decisions. I'm basically writing this post for myself tonight, as a means of reflection and to sort out some thoughts without giving way to the fact that in a blog I really can't disclose names or anything.
Starting my new practice is exciting and scary all at the same time. I've decided to take this week to take care of major paperwork that needs to be done to get business cards and letterhead ordered (where ARE my girls when I need them here?) and then filing to become an insurance provider so folks can file insurance claims when they see me....the list is endless.
This afternoon was a moment of fun when I had to make my recording for my answering machine. A small task for some, but I had to do it over and over again because I kept messing up! I finally wrote down what I needed to record and just basically read it. Job done. I actually figured out how to check it remotely so I can see if anyone is trying to reach me there. Cool.
Then came the time when I had to make a decision. You know how there are people in the world that seem to have been placed there just to make YOUR life miserable? Well, I know one such person and I've been able to tolerate and work with him simply because I avoid him when I can. After all of the training, classes and licensure that I've been through....as well as my years of experience in teaching, I feel fairly confident in the job I am doing. There are moments, of course, when my own insecurities creep in and I cringe. This afternoon was one of those when I had to decide to continue with a task I've been doing for several years...but I found out would NOW include some one on one training by "the guy" to try to streamline my work. I would rather eat a bucket of nails. Not doing so would mean that I would need to say goodbye to a part of my present job that I have enjoyed, and try to spend that time getting more focused on my private practice.
It was hard to not let that insecure part of me creep in and say "you don't know what in the world you are doing" and all, but that lasted just a short time before I decided....NO. I am going to stand up for who I am and what I know. I'm just simply not going to put myself in the position of being criticized by someone that I know will truly enjoy every moment of ripping me apart. Nope, not gonna happen this time to this old girl. I may end up flipping hamburgers at McDonalds, but at some point in life we all have to stand up for ourselves and be true to ourselves. Others can tell us what a good job we are doing, but until we believe it inside, we are really helpless to stand up and say a strong "hell no...but thanks anyway."
So, there's my lecture for today. No charge.