Suzanne was more than depressed. All that she had worked for all those years was now on the line. For the first time she had followed the advice friends and associates had been giving her for years. "Do your own version of The Nutcracker, just do it...you are ready!" they would so often say. Every time Suzanne would even so much as consider the idea, huge waves of fear would overtake her and she would abandon any plans of mounting a production of the much loved ballet.

This year was different. She finally decided to bite the bullet and get things going. "I'm not getting any younger and I owe it to all my faithful students and their parents. Suzanne knew just how much of a task it would be to get something like this from her mind and on to the stage. Months would follow as every minor and major detail would have to be thought of and put into action. Choreography, casting, rehearsals, costumes, publicity... you name it, Suzanne literally immersed herself into all aspects of what it takes to get a production like this on the boards.

Ticket sales, much to Suzanne's amazement, were brisk. Only a few seats remained at the final of five performances and those were sure to sell out. Everything was ready to go. Suzanne was happy that she was able to bring in some outside ballet dancers to perform some of the main roles in the second act. On the whole she felt she had a pretty professional production. Not too shabby for her first try.

On the night of the final dress rehearsal, Suzanne knew that something was off. It had nothing to do with anyone in the production or any aspect of it. Those much dreaded waves of fear started to overtake her once again and became so intense that Suzanne found it difficult to breathe. Just as her husband, Richard, was getting the car out of the garage to drive her to the high school where The Nutcracker was to be performed, Suzanne couldn't move. She had never felt such a state of paralysis before and it really scared her.

Richard - Suzanne? Where are you? It's time to go. I've been waiting for you in the car for 20 minutes. You don't want to be late to your own dress rehearsal, do you?

Suzanne - Richard, I can't go. I just can't

Richard - What? What do you mean honey?

Suzanne - My feet can't get it together to organize themselves to even get down the stairs, into the garage and into the car. I just can't!

Richard - What in the world are you talking about Suzanne! Do I need to take you to the hospital?

Suzanne - No, no...it's not that kind of thing

Richard - Well what kind of thing is it?

Suzanne couldn't say a word. Now, not only did her feet not want to move, her tongue was afflicted with the same type of issue.

Richard - Suzanne, talk to me honey. What's the matter with you? I don't understand. You say what's going on with you isn't physical, so then what is it?

Suzanne then burst into tears. She hadn't cried for a long time and the outburst and release of emotion had been a long time coming. Her tears were flowing big time.

Suzanne - Oh Richard, I just don't feel this is going to work out

Richard - What don't you feel isn't working out?

Suzanne - The production

Richard - The production? You mean The Nutcracker?

Suzanne - Yes, yes...the darn ballet

Richard - I don't understand what you mean

Suzanne - I can't go through with it. It's not going to work out. I knew I shouldn't have taken something like this on. I've been feeling this way for months now. Why in the world did I think I could ever do this?

Richard - Suzanne, now calm down. I think you really need to re-think how you are feeling right now. How in the world do you feel that you aren't ready to move forward with all of this after putting your heart and soul into it for the last number of months? I've been to the rehearsals leading up to tonight and I have to tell you, you've got something really special going on. I know it and so does everyone involved in the production. How come you're the only one who doesn't?

Suzanne - This isn't worth talking about. Please call everyone involved, their numbers are on the fridge, and just tell them that the whole thing is off. I'll figure out how to get the money back to the ticket holders tomorrow. Will you please do that for me Richard?

Richard - OK Suzanne! It's time for a "Come to Jesus Meeting" right here, right now. Please sit down and here, take this Kleenex box and keep it right on your lap. Suzanne, I'm kind of glad all of this came up right now because this is something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now

You are so darn talented and are such a good leader and creator, you're the only one who doesn't see it. How is that? How in the world could this be? Maybe you haven't stepped back and taken a look at the wonderful work of art you've created. Maybe you haven't stepped back and taken a look at the faces of your students who now believe in themselves all because of this wonderful production process you chose to undertake. You have done a wonderful thing here Suzanne and now you want to sabotage it? Excuse me but I just don't get it! How is it that the people with the biggest heart and biggest talent are the very same ones who so often don't see it? That's you Suzanne. Do you not see who you really are and what you're truly capable of when you look in the mirror?

I'm going to go into the garage and turn off the motor of the car. I'm leaving you up here to think about everything. If you want to cancel everything, let me know. If you want to go to the dress rehearsal, just let me know. The decision is yours. Just remember this, you have shown so many that if they take the time to believe in themselves and their abilities, they truly can create great things. You are one of those people too Suzanne. All you have to do is remember it, see it and realize it. Let me know when you've decided what you are going to do. I love you

And with that said, Richard closed the door of their bedroom and left Suzanne to face herself like she had never faced herself before.

Suzanne - OK Suzanne. Here you sit, your world in shambles, everything's a wreck. If you could just take back the last number of months as if nothing had ever happened, that would truly be the way to go. Unfortunately, that's not possible. So Suzanne just sat on her bed with a half full waste basket of used tissues and faced herself.

For the longest time she didn't think of anything. All she did was sit there feeling like she was a blank slate. As she was doing that, she felt her heart beating real fast. Instantly she flashed back to a time when a young boy named Sal was forced by his parents to take a dance class at Suzanne's studio for the very first time. She could see that he was nervous and about to cry so she stopped teaching the class and went over to him and just held him. As she did, she could feel his heart beating out of control. This touched her deeply and she then said to him, "Sal, I want you to know how very much I believe in you. Don't let fear ever stop you. You are the only one stopping yourself. Just step around your fear and know that you can do anything you set your mind to. All you have to do is believe. The choice is yours."

Just then Suzanne thought she heard someone knocking on the bedroom door. Just as she was about to see who this could have been, the door opened. It was Sal.

Suzanne - Sal! How in the world did you get here and even more important, WHY are you here?

Sal - Miss Suzanne, Richard called me and asked that my Mom drive me here instead of to the High School. Have you been crying?

Suzanne - That's not important Sal. I'm sorry that you weren't able to go to the High School tonight. You are even partially in costume for your big role in the ballet. Guess whose fault it is that you won't be at the school tonight for the run through? It's mine Sal

Just then Sal went over to Suzanne and could feel that her heart was beating way out of control. He then took her hand and said to her, "Miss Suzanne, I want you to know how very much I believe in you. Don't let fear ever stop you. You are the only one stopping you. Just step around your fear and know that you can do anything you set your mind to. All you have to do is believe. The choice is yours."

The ballet had ended 20 minutes ago. The applause wouldn't stop. Everyone was up on their feet. It was now the opening night of Suzanne's production of The Nutcracker and to say the least, it was a raging success. When Suzanne came out to take her bow, the entire company that was now onstage, gave her a rousing cheer as did the audience that night. Suzanne took the beautiful bouquet of flowers that was presented to her and asked that everyone stop for a minute because there was something she wanted to say...

Suzanne - Ladies and Gentlemen, students and friends... thank you so much for being here. This evening means so very much to me, you'll never really know. All I can say is that I would especially like to thank two very important people in my life, my dear husband Richard, and one of my cherished students, Sal. They held a mirror up to me when I couldn't see my own reflection and forced me to take a look. I'm living proof of what happens when you give yourself a chance and don't stand in your way. We humans are capable of doing truly amazing things. Tonight is proof of that. It starts by acknowledging ourselves, loving ourselves and believing in ourselves. When that occurs, look what amazing things can happen!

Suzanne had learned her lesson. So how about you? Are there times when you feel like Suzanne did? If so, it's O.K. Just be sure that you don't ever take yourself for granted. You came here to do great things. When you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, maybe the only one standing in the way... is you!