Atypical & Awesome “Bite the Bullet”
I’ve struggled with transient social anxiety throughout my life and that in itself is blog-worthy. However, today I want to make mention of three times I “bit the bullet” and made myself go into a social situation which ultimately changed my life.
Tallahassee, FL January 2006. I read about something called NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association, International) and an event they were having. Despite having a near panic attack and getting flipped off in Tallahassee traffic, I forced myself to go into the bar where the event took place. I sat alone in the back of the room while listening to what I now know was a “songwriter’s round”. I forced myself to introduce myself to two men at the bar- Ron Patrick and Paul Harbin. Paul would become my first songwriting mentor and Ron was the Regional Coordinator for NSAI- Tallahassee. Within a year or two I became co-coordinator with Ron and made my first trips to Nashville as a Regional Coordinator with NSAI during Tin Pan South. Going into that bar that night, literally changed my life.
Enterprise, AL sometime in 2016. I read about a local open-mic at a place called Hoobler Music. I knew I would not perform but just getting the courage to go as a spectator was really challenging for me. I walked in at the tail-end but forced myself to introduce myself to some of the performers. I want to think the next month, they were in their new location and this time I did perform- scared to death. But I met a lot of people that night. I continued to go to the monthly open-mics. Soon, Roy- Mr. Hoobler himself, invited me to join the choir at St. Luke UMC. I have been a front row soprano there three years now. Also, as a result of those open-mics and my friendship with the Hoobler’s, South Alabama Songwriters was born. All these events stemmed directly from that first night of defeating my anxiety and walking into a completely new setting in a new town.
Atlanta, GA summer 2019. I was attending a work conference and decided to get out at night and go to an all female songwriters show. I was driving in Atlanta by myself which in itself was a feat for my anxiety. I went to the wrong place at first but I stopped and asked for directions and pressed on. I made it and that night I met Kim Ware who was hosting, “The Old Gals Club” songwriters show at The Red Bar. As a result of this meeting, a few months later I was invited to the online community of Kimono My House- Atlanta. I have participated in several of their special online concerts and have made countless friends. One such friend, Jon Phipps introduced me to allpoetry.com. I began posting poems and one of my poems was selected and published in a book put out by allpoetry.com. All of this stems back to making a decision to not let my anxiety win.
Three specific times when facing and defeating my anxiety has resulted in life- changing events. Bite the bullet, today.
