My husband said, "Don't tell them you barely graduated high shool! They'll think you don't know what you're talking about." ....well, I did. I shared this on my socials this morning and it felt really vulnerable to tell that part of my story. My heart is still in my throat a bit, while I also genuinely want to be more open. It's been easy to share the highs and lows that feel 'normal' but some of these more gut renching emotional things... not so much. In case you missed it, here's what I shared: --- I wasn't supposed to graduate high school. About 5 weeks before I was to finish, Mr. Pasquini, the school principal, told me I had been selected to sing at graduation; however, I wasn't going to qualify and graduate unless I got my act together. This was scary news to my social (not academic) minded self. Rewind 10 years and my parents were being advised to hold me back for another round of 3rd grade. Instead I went to summer school and forged on. Year after year from 3rd grade until my last year of college, academics were a confusing, painful, and shaming experience for me. Looking back, you would think that kind of kid would not even consider college, but I was so clueless, I honestly didn't know that _not_ going was an option. So I went. And struggled. At a small college with caring teachers I completed my undergraduate degree. It was during the last part of my college experience that I started discovering how I could get good results, even better-than-expected results in different parts of my life. I was still struggling with academics, but confidence in other parts of who I was began to bloom. Each year I would gain more confidence and independence in singing groups, traveling, and planning events for the student body. Looking back, I see it was the first time I had a taste of leading others using my natural desire for making everything fun, communicative, and connecting. I started to get feedback from others that was positive and encouraging...even though I still felt lacking in my school smarts.

Sharing your experience allows others to identify ways that they might benefit from going through the program.

Where focus goes, energy flows! Taking the time to think about and share your wins has all kinds of benefits - you begin to see more of them in your life, you encourage others through the sharing, and you create the type of energy that will create more wins as it reinforces the strengths your tapping into. Bragging allowed here :D