Difficult Conversations - Speak Your Mind, Even if Your Voice Shakes

I remember this quote that my drama teacher had hanging on the wall above her desk when I was 15. 

Difficult conversations are uncomfortable and something I'm working at getting better at.  It's always been scary for me - asserting myself and expressing what I need. 

Here are some examples of difficult conversations I have had recently that I'm proud of: 

1.  I talked with the family I rent from to ask them if they could please hang out somewhere other than the kitchen after 10pm... as it is soundwise, like being inside my bedroom.  There's only screen separating the rooms. 

2.  I called a mother of a student to discuss how her daughter didn't bring the full class payment, when I considered just letting it go. 

3.  I stood up for myself when a student was canceling every class... even though she got mad and stopped taking classes, I felt better about not being disrespected in this way. 

4.  I talked to the manager of the café where I had the allergic reaction.  I almost left when I saw he was in a meeting, but instead I got up the courage to say excuse me and explain to him the Tuna was bad so somebody else wouldn't get sick.  He offered me a free lunch, which I have to admit I ate with a little fear :] 

These all might sound like little things.... but sometimes, little things are big.