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Do something that scares you every day

Noodles
Tonight I did something that scared me more than anything that I've done in a long, long time.  This afternoon, as a last minute request, I was asked to act as a translator for a dinner - English to Mandarin - in a professional setting.  Want to know how awesome my Chinese is?  Pretty much as awesome as waking up at 3 am, trekking to the airport at 5 am and having your Hawaii flight canceled (happened to one of my cousins attending the wedding - womp, womp, womp).  So yeah, as un-awesome as it gets.

I've honestly never been so nervous that I've sweat bullets before, but I made up for it tonight in front of the four gentlemen from China.  I drank approximately one gallon of water and had to hold my hands together to keep them from shaking.  But you know what?  I did it and survived.  The translation was not even 70% correct but regardless, I still actually kind of enjoyed myself.  Pushing myself into uncomfortable territory was nerve-wracking but oh-so rewarding and empowering.  So tell me, what have you done lately that's scared you?

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Comments

  1. DianaMonday, July 29, 2013

    Yay, go you for stepping out of your comfort zone! I need some of that gumption. I think that the closest I've gotten is going to different events in the city that I normally just ignore b/c I'm ashamed of my weight. :/

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  2. KateMonday, July 29, 2013

    Woohoo! So good to do something like that. I have a project on at work at the moment that's super scary but I'm almost done :)

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  3. UnknownMonday, July 29, 2013

    Good for you!! Not surprised at all that you succeeded with flying colors :)

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  4. AnonymousTuesday, July 30, 2013

    wow, congratulations. good for you. it's by the way not easy to find something that scares you every day...

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  5. Debie GraceTuesday, July 30, 2013

    That's a good thing! Congratulations, Rooth! More challenges in the future. HAhaha! I just talked in front of my professors for my final thesis months ago. It was scary but, indeed, fulfilling!

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  6. RicademusTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Way to go Rooth!!! Would singing on my blog count? (I'm done with that whole people pointing guns at me thing.)

    PS - Are you sure you didn't accidentally sell them your company??? :)

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  7. NinaTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Congrats for a successful evening! Isn't it a great feeling when you jump in and at the end of the evening you realize that you actually miraculously survived it all, even thought you were so scared before. I need to step out of my comfort zone more often but the name says it all, it's so comfortable in my comfort zone ;)

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  8. ameliaTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Congrats! We're so proud . . .

    As for me, I have lead one meeting tomorrow and speak at another--both in my native tongue, mind you, but I'd much rather be a wall flower when it comes to such things. Sigh.

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  9. EmmylouTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Yay, Rooth! We should always do something that scares us:) Keeps us on our toes, right?

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  10. LaurenTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Brilliantly done. A real fake it till you make it moment, and I'm terribly proud of you.

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  11. ErinTuesday, July 30, 2013

    You go girl. I would have messed up the translation intentionally and caused a full out Mr. Bean style caper at dinner. But that's just me.

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  12. Christine D. | The Plumed NestTuesday, July 30, 2013

    good for you! i am so proud of you! i have not really done anything very recently that scares me but i am feeling it's time. the last scary thing i did turned out to validate all my fears of it (not good), but hey, that's what happens sometimes - that's why it's scary. but we have to keep trying right?

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  13. Erika Lee @ A Tiny RocketTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Yah!!! You did it. I am scared of lots of things but try to push myself out of my comfort zone because it's good for me but .. what I am really scared of that I will never do is sky diving.. never! :)

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  14. UnknownTuesday, July 30, 2013

    Wow, that is really cool. I am glad you did it!

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  15. Jade @ Tasting GraceTuesday, July 30, 2013

    That's awesome! And I'm sure they were just grateful that you were able to help facilitate communication at all.

    Hmm...getting in the car with my aging father behind the wheel scares me...does that count? Also...childbirth scares me. It's getting closer and closer every single day. GAH.

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  16. JaneWednesday, July 31, 2013

    good for you! your blog post title is right on i would say. i was offered a translating gig (english to korean) and i chickened out! but i agree, we really need to be pushing ourselves and challenging ourselves to grow!

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  17. SarahWednesday, July 31, 2013

    That's AMAZING! I'm sure you were worlds more helpful than you realized! They had to have been grateful that you even obliged. Again, that is AMAZING. Pat yourself on the back. :)

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  18. jWednesday, July 31, 2013

    I think that's so great that you did it! And 70% is good and 100% better than if you hadn't translated at all, they got the idea of what was being said. I find people are really forgiving when you are speaking a language that isn't your primary language.

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  19. Travel GourmandeFriday, August 02, 2013

    This is awesome ! Well done! I'm so happy for you. The effects of overcoming something scary is such a rush. I'm going to finally try a ride, a giant log swing next week that I've chickened out on last year. I know I'll be screaming like crazy. Let's see if I don't chicken out this year.

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