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What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Posted on Aug 28th, 2007 by Shelly  : Petrepreneur- Pay It Forward Pets Shelly
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for March 21, 2007:

Backpack?

$15.00 on eBay

Parking pass?

$48.00

Overcoming fear of failure and returning to school to become that which I was always meant to be?

Priceless


So, I know that this Q&A went around months ago. Truth be told I hated it when I read it. Didn't much like Brian and all his ThinkArete blah-blah either. It wasn't anything personal. It was just, in my heart, I knew there was one big, hairy, audacious fear of failure that was holding me back from pursuing my BIGGEST dream...... becoming a holistic veterinarian.

What if I am too old? What if I can't make the grades? What if I can't get accepted to vet school? Where will I get the money? What will I do with my animal family while I am away? Blah blah blah...... I had been telling myself that BS for more than 20 years; frozen solid on a path of fear without even stepping out on it to see if in fact any of those things were true.

Not anymore. Yippee! Today I return to UNLV to finish my BA in May and will be applying for vet school in approximately 18-24 months. I feel like this is my actual very first day at school. I've got my backpack, notebooks, multiple pens (just in case one runs out of course) PB&J, about 40 gallons of water (got to keep this brain hydrated for optimal use), campus map....do you suppose they let you tie your pack mule at the bike racks? It's pathetic really. But what was more pathetic was that it took me 20 years to finally give this a shot.

Don't get me wrong. I know that everything I have done until this very moment has prepared me to succeed on this new adventure. I am so very grateful for every challenge, opportunity, job and person from my past that has given me the strength to fulfill to this dream. I know that timing is always Divine and now is the time that was always planned to do this.

Fear of failure is a funny thing. It's like the monster under the bed. It gets bigger and bigger the more we think about its potential. Then one day we get just about curious and courageous enough to lean over and take a peak under the bed and we find there was nothing there to begin with. We made it up all along. 

Thank God to Brian and all his dang questions, to all my friends here at Zaadz (especially Mandy who was one of the few people I had the guts to tell this dream to and who encouraged me to no end), to my dear friend Ted who recently asked the question, "When you are sitting on your porch sipping lemonaide when you are 85 years old, what would you rather look back and reflect upon......that you gave it your all in the pursuit or that you were too afraid to try?", and to my other friends and family who all these years never gave up on me or the dream either. Here's to becoming that which we were always meant to be!

Vet School or Bust



Access_public Access: Public 12 Comments Print views (351)  
Obi : Maker & Doer.
6 minutes later
Obi said

I love it. Go for it girl!

Moni : NatureHermit
24 minutes later
Moni said

Yes, Shelly, do what you love.  The picture you have posted is so beautiful.  Blessings, Moni

~Matthew : Youthful Maturity
about 1 hour later
~Matthew said

Wow!  This blog post made my day today, Shelly :)  Let me know what I can do to support you.

Big Hugs,
~Matthew

ROb : Bliff Coler
about 2 hours later
ROb said

Shelly! 

Helllllls yeah, girl - Welcome to the club!   I'm completely stoked for ya, and can't wait for the even gooder news 18-24 months from now!

Glad to see you're doin' great :)

Teenie~Dakini : ~.~  I have my moments  ~.~
about 5 hours later
Teenie~Dakini said

Shelly <HUG>  with glistening eyes (from a few tears) and a smile a mile wide… Congrats on your Courage to follow your Dream, especially as Doubt grew and grew over those years.  You are an inspiration!  Not to mention that a Holistic Vet sounds too awesome! 

Much love, ~ Stacy  (and on behalf of my Metta Menagerie: Neigh! Me-meow! Woof! Peep! and Cockadoodledo!  :-)

Jen : Zrii-ite
about 12 hours later
Jen said

wow - you are truly an inspiration to us all!! - way to go -
Living life with Passion, Purpose, and Profit
Jen

Lauren : Eye of the Storm
1 day later
Lauren said

I'm dancing in celebration of YOU, Shelly!! It may have taken you 20 years, but you've taken the steps now to follow your dream! And there are lots of people who *never* take the step. You have my support - we need loving, compassionate, holistic vets! Woo-Hoo!

With Joy, 

Lauren

Mandy : Confessions From A Work In Progress
2 days later
Mandy said

Shelvis, my love…I have the most hysterical picture of you in my head…your Mom dropping you off at the bus stop, you with knee socks on and a pink backpack and ponytails…off to school with the rest of the Runnin' Rebels.  I'm proud of you like you were my sister (which really, you are, Soul Sista) and I'm especially proud of you that you've now put it out there to the Zaadz universe.  Look - one day of posting and check out the support you've already received!  I can't wait to watch your progress, and how you are going to geek out (like I did when I went back to school) about all-nighters, full of tubes of cookie dough and Mountain Dew, and musical choices like Tori Amos (when you're feeling philosophical) or Def Leppard (when you need something to wake you up!) 

Play nice with the other kids…and don't pick your nose! :) xo

Shelly  : Petrepreneur- Pay It Forward Pets
8 days later
Shelly said

In case I don't say it often enough…… I love you all! I am so blessed to have you on this journey. Thanks SO much for all the support.

Brian : PhilosophersNotes.com
about 1 month later
Brian said

just caught this…

love it. :)

Brian : PhilosophersNotes.com
about 1 month later
Brian said

just caught this…

love it. :)

4 months later
spierce1960 said

Can you give us an update?  How asre things going?  I enjoyed your post, your honesty and you enthusiasm!  Let us know how you are progressing.

Shelley in IN

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