Every year the YWCA holds an award ceremony for Women of Distinction. Every year I hear about the winners and the wonderful gala the YWCA put on the celebrate and wonder how they decide on who is part of these awards.
This year, I found out My friend Heidi called me up a few months ago and asked if she could nominate me. WHAT? Was my first response. In the Business and Entrepreneur category. Double WHAAAT???
As we talked, and over the next several weeks while we put together my nomination package and even up until today, I’m fighting a combination of flattered and touched contrasted by feeling completely unworthy.
Regular readers will know that I’ve been floundering lately as to where my business is going, what I want to do with it, whether I should even continue. As much as I am so touched that Heidi feels the work I do is worthy of an award, I look at the other women who are and have been nominated with their success in the business arena and wonder, how can I even compare?
Like so many things in life, it’s so easy to compare myself to others. Thankfully, I know I’m not alone in this. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who doesn’t compare themselves. We compare our bodies, our love lives, our career success, our happiness, our diets, our homes, our cars, our creativity level, our time management, our organizational skills, our cooking, our debt, our dreams – you name it, someone somewhere – maybe you – is comparing to someone else.
As I’ve been going through the process of this nomination and my crazy brain, I’ve been reminded of a few things:
- no one is perfect, everyone struggles
- no matter how successful someone appears in one area of their lives, they are concerned about another
- there is always room to grow, no matter where you are
- our old tapes and negative talk are our own worst enemy
- sometimes it’s important to see ourselves through the eyes of others who see our successes whereas we tend to see our “failures”
As the awards for Women of Distinction approach, I am concentrating on remembering the good I have done, the people I have touched, the lives I know I’ve changed. No matter how I may be feeling about myself on any given day, that fact doesn’t change. I have testimonials to remind me of people I’ve helped. My brain tries to keep me safe by bringing up fears and doubts. Thankfully, the truth is beyond what I feel or think when I’m feeling small.
I embrace my nomination. I may not win, and that doesn’t matter. Being nominated is a thrill. Having people call me to tell me they are coming out to celebrate with me is so amazing. Knowing that no matter what I’m feeling, others believe in me is touching and uplifting.
Please, when you feel that things aren’t going your way, that you aren’t where you should be, that you are failing more than succeeding, please do what I am working on doing:
- look to the past and recognize how far you’ve come
- look to those who love and support you to give you perspective
- celebrate your path and where you are on the road – even if you can’t see too far ahead
It’s so important to celebrate all women (and men) – and yourself – and their journey, no matter how far along it we are.
If you would like to celebrate the 52 women nominated in eight categories for Women of Distinction, get your ticket for the gala on May 29, It would be so lovely to see you there!
Have a PURRfect day!
Christie Mawer – The Bad Kitty
thebadkittyis@gmail.com