"In this new path I have discovered a whole new Claudia"

The reason I enrolled in this quest is that I desire to be a better speaker. You see, for most of my life I have kept quite, in the background, without saying a word because I have felt that I have nothing to say. It was not until I forwent a very painful experience which led me to look for a new path. In this new path I have discovered a whole new Claudia which I have learned to love and appreciate. And this new Claudia has so much to share and say. I feel so ready to speak up. The only thing that stops me are the fears I’ve been carrying for most of my life; “I’m not worthy; who would want to listen to me?; I don’t know how to communicate; I don’t know how to articulate my thoughts; I don’t have the vocabulary to speak to others” ... and there might be more crazy thoughts I carry. I know these are not real. And I know that I will do what will propel me to move forward. This is why I joined this challenge.