Hey - you are incredible! You are fantastic & worthy & enough and DON’T LET ANYONE CONVINCE YOU OTHERWISE.

Last week was a whirlwind for me. I was invited to speak at a national conference about my work in research, analytics & citizen engagement. While I was at the conference, I was shocked to receive the top award for social media use. I had zero expectations to win and feel incredibly humbled.

Most importantly, the presentation & award were extremely validating and empowering. Over the last 9 months, others have questioned my intelligence, abilities & worth and, as a result, I slipped down the hole of self doubt, second guessing and insecurity. Especially so in the last couple months where I felt like I had ZERO good qualities, was an idiot and abject failure.

So to not only receive a national professional award, but to present to a group of colleagues (most older than me) and to watch them nod along, take notes, snap pictures of my slides, ask questions...it hit me with such force last week -