Out There

half, originally uploaded by sweetmondaygirl.

I'm incredibly shy.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before.

For the most part, my shyness is of the usual sort. I get nervous about meeting new people and doing things that require me to interact with strangers in a way that I'm not used to. Sometimes it goes beyond that, to the point of my feeling timid about something ridiculously simple, like having dinner with a friend I've known for years.

The shyness has been debilitating at times. There've been numerous things I've wanted to do but have backed away from in order to avoid the awful anxiety that would come along with it. Every once in a while though, I suddenly find that I've signed on for something that puts me out there, and I have to do it whether I'm scared to or not.

Tonight I'm volunteering to do craft projects with some kids who live in a shelter for domestic abuse victims. I'm nervous about this. I won't know anyone there, I don't know what to expect or what exactly is expected of me. Basically, it's your garden variety anxiety producer. I've had butterflies about it since yesterday.

I hope it will be worth it. I think it will be. It almost always is.