Sizzle Says

In the non-profit world, we’re pretty lax when it comes to a dress code. Sure, we’ll step it up a notch now and again but for the most part wearing shorts or jeans or even flip flops is acceptable. We’re so laid-back. And shit, we better have some perks because lord knows the bank isn’t going cha-ching when our pay check is deposited. Making the world a better place pays more in warm fuzzies than it does in dollars. And sometimes we get free booze on Fridays at 4pm.

So yesterday was a “step it up a notch” kind of day because my department was asked to present to the Board of Directors about what we’ve been accomplishing. And I wore a dress. All day my coworkers were commenting on the dress. We are an office of 92% women which helps explain it. “Where did you get that cute dress?” and “Why are you dressed up?” For the record, it is from Target. And I made the necklace. The smile is not for sale in retail stores currently. I hope that satisfies your curiosity.

Do you realize that come August, I will have been working for this agency for one year? Has the time flown or what? While preparing my presentation I realized that, wow, I actually have done a lot. I might even go so far as to say I’ve turned my program around. But you know even with that knowledge? I got a little bit nervous about talking in front of them. The Board. It’s strange because I don’t normally get nervous talking in front of crowds. Hell, if that were the case, I’d have no business doing what I do for a living. 80% of my job is “customer relations.” If I don’t have the skill to command an audience, I am not very good at my job.

In case you haven’t noticed, I am not much of a wallflower.

Luckily, the presentation was a huge hit. Kudos were delivered left and right. The big wigs were impressed. Our bosses were singing our praises to anyone who would listen. And there was, for a moment, a feeling of satisfaction that washed over me. Like I let the compliments IN. That’s not the easiest thing for me to do, as you know. But I did. And it felt great.

Maybe I should wear a dress more often?

“You know there’s no need to hide away/You know I tell the truth/We are just the same/I can feel everything you do/Hear everything you say/Even when you’re miles away/Cause I am me, the universe and you/And just like stars burning bright/Making holes in the night/We are building bridges…” -Universe & U, KT Tunstall