Facing My Fears at the Chico’s NYC Meet Up

September 25, 2017 / 38 Comments

I am a midlife fashion and lifestyle blogger. I share photographs of myself online and on social media. I have shared photographs of myself styling corsets. And just this week, I shared pictures of myself in my underwear. In a magazine. I write about sensitive and taboo topics such as mental illness, pre-menopause, sex, and pornography. I occasionally and strategically use words like fuck and vagina when I am going full force for shock value.

*This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. 

I have been called brave. I have been told that I have guts. It has been said that I do things that others would never have the nerve to to do.  All of this may lead you to believe that I am fearless. I go straight out to the edge…in almost everything I do. But please don’t mistake that for fearlessness. Because there is fear. And plenty of it. Fear of judgment. Fear of ridicule. Fear of not being accepted. Fear of chastisement. Fear that people will think that I am just downright nuts. Fear that I will fall right off that edge that I stand upon.

But if there is one thing that I have learned in my 43 years, it is never to let fear hold me back. Because it did hold me back. For many years. And I missed a multitude of opportunities because of it. Then one day I realized that the very best way to conquer my fears was to face them head on. Yes, facing one’s fears takes a certain bit of courage. But courage or not, the body’s physiological responses to fear remain the same. So as I am going head to head with the greatest of my fears, you better believe that my breath is short, my heart is racing, my voice is shaking, and my armpits are sweating (probably my vagina, too). But here is the trick…I just push right on through it…maybe looking like a fool along the way.  Thankfully and much to my benefit, I have been blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and an ease in letting things roll off my back. So if I crash and burn (and I have more than once), at least I have no problem laughing at myself. I pick myself up, brush myself off, learn from my mistakes (usually), and move the fuck on.

My newest face off against a major fear is about to go down at the upcoming Chico’s Forever Fierce: Midlife Revolution Meet Up in New York City on October 7. I was asked to be one of the five models showcasing my Chico’s style at this event. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity and I am so very excited to be a part of this amazingly important revolution to change the perception of midlife women in fashion.

However, when Eugenia messaged me asking if I would be a model, my first response was fear. Unadulterated, monumental, and intense fear. My first thought was this: “No way. I can’t do that. All eyes will be on me. What if I fall? What if I sweat right through my clothing? What if I make a complete and total ass of myself?”

And then I switched gears. Immediately. Before I effectively and brutally defeated myself. I took a deep breath and responded to Eugenia, “Oh wow! Yeah. I think! That makes me nervous! But I guess the best way to conquer our fears is to face them!” And now here I am, in a whirlwind of choosing outfits from Chico’s and coloring my gray roots in preparation for the event (which is only 12 days away). All the while praying to God that I don’t make a complete and total ass of myself!  

Right here, I have to send an enormous thank you to Jackie and her team at the Chico’s in Fayetteville, New York, for all of their fabulous styling assistance! They offered me world class service that went above and beyond my expectations. I simply could not have pulled it off without them!

So if you want to be a part of this amazing initiative of fierce women or if you just want to stand by and see if I fall flat on my face, you can find all the details for attending this event here.

The photos I am sharing in this post are me totally and fearlessly within my comfort zone. Slouchy boyfriend jeans, flat sandals, and a comfy kimono, chilling unseen in the safety of my backyard, taking my own photos with a Bluetooth remote and my iPhone. Not posing for anyone or in front of anyone. Not all that worried about the lighting or the quality. Just my simple outfit photos because it’s what I love to do.

*By the way, the outfit in this post is not from Chico’s. It is comprised of old pieces that have been in my closet for quite some time.

Here in my little blog space, I have shown you all my best, my worst, and everything in between. I have shared my secrets, my struggles, my thoughts, and the lessons I have learned in the hopes that you, too, can find your way to the most wonderful things that lie just on the other side of your comfort zone…simply by facing your fears.

I hope to see some of you in New York City!

By the way, I will be joining these four fabulous women modeling our Chico’s style:

Cherie of Style Nudge
Dawn of Plumage 59
Michele of Seechele_styles
Tracey of Chic Classy Spicy

Keeping it on the edge…as I always do,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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