A new week is upon us and there are so many things to look forward to (and be anxious about).

This week, starting tomorrow, I will be attending the annual Canadian Psychological Association conference in conjunction with the International Congress of Applied Psychology. I am both excited and nervous about this opportunity.

Here are my racing thoughts:

1. It is not my first conference. I have done this before. This year is not much different.
2. It’s in a new city.
3. It’s a city I’m familiar with – a city I visited multiple times a year from birth until the age of 12. I can handle this.
4. I have to say a speech in front of a lot of people on opening day.
5. Public speaking is a strength. I can do this.
6. I feel very unprepared for my presentation.
7. But I won’t be alone in my presentation and I have presented on it before. It’s on a topic I live and breathe.
8. I’m missing a week of work – that’s a lot of money to make up.
9. I’ve worked a lot of long days to make up for the week – it will be fine.
10. I have to navigate the public transit system completely on my own (AKA without my mother being here for support).
11. I did not need to use Google Maps to find my way from the bus station to the metro. I got on the right subway track. I got off at the right stop. The rest of it will be fine as well.
12. I have plenty of friends and family here in the city who will be here to help me through this week.