Have You Ever Looked Closely at A Safety Pin?

     It’s such a simple design. Invented in 1849, it’s largely unchanged and not very valuable, but I’ve always liked them. As a kid through the 80s and 90s, I have fond memories of covering my denim jacket and shoes with safety pins loaded with colorful beads. We called them “friendship beads” if my memory serves me correctly. I had no idea growing up that this small piece of twisted metal would come to mean so much to me. Over the years it has grown in its value and serves as a talisman when I’m trying to beat imposter syndrome. I always have a safety pin close to me, and I probably always will. 

It Began In College.

     I majored in Home Economics Education and my advisor was a wonderful woman named Mrs. Aswell. She has since passed away, but I often think about her and all the tidbits of wisdom she taught me. One, in particular, had to do with the safety pin.

     For those of you that don’t know, when studying to be a teacher, one thing you have to do before you graduate is “student teaching.” This is when you step into another teacher’s class and practice teaching. Part of that experience included a companion class with my advisor. We met one night a week. It was a time for us to voice our struggles and successes. Mrs. Aswell would wipe our tears during the terrible weeks and celebrate our victories when we finally figured out a solution. She also tried to teach us lessons she had learned the hard way.  

Life Caught Her Unprepared.

     Years earlier, while walking in to teach her high school class, Mrs. Aswell felt her skirt give way. Her button had popped off. Grabbing her skirt, she desperately searched her desk for a safety pin. With none to be found, she tried to use a paper clip to hold the fabric together. Ten minutes into her lecture, she felt a swish of fabric. She looked down to see her skirt around her ankles. Then she looked up to see the wide, shocked eyes of her high school students.

After a lot of laughter, she stated her point. “Always be prepared.” She demanded. 

Then with a shake of her head, she added, “And for goodness sakes, don’t be the Home Ec. teacher that gets caught without a safety pin. You’ll thank me for that later.”

     I never forgot that story. One of the first things I did was put a baggie filled with safety pins in my desk. I didn’t get to thank her personally, but I often thought it over the years. Several times a week, a knock at my door would bring another teary-eyed girl with a wardrobe malfunction. I would smile while heading for my trusty stash. Always be prepared. Don’t get caught with my skirt around my ankles. Thanks, Mrs. Aswell.

     I still have those safety pins. I just couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them. As discussed in my post, Mid-Life Author, I recently compiled a list of my lost dreams. While looking through old memorabilia, I came across my safety pin stash. I laughed a little thinking of the memories and moved on to a different item. But the safety pin story stuck with me as I began making my lost dreams list. 

Beating Imposter Syndrome and Fear Of Failure

     One constant barrier to reaching for a dream is fear. What if I try, and it’s horrible? What if I publish my novel and people hate it? What if I interview for that position, and they laugh at me? What if I blog my thoughts, and people leave hateful comments? Fear can be crippling, and I battle it often. One day, while struggling with imposter syndrome, I saw my safety pins. I held one between my fingers and pushed it open and closed. While feeling the metal push against my thumb, a thought just popped into my brain. A thought that strangely sounded exactly like Mrs. Aswell. 

“You’re safe.” 

     I remember pausing and looking down at my hands. “You’re safe, Meredith.” I heard again.

     And just like that, I realized it was true. I can try to do anything, and I might fail miserably. But I’m safe. I’m enough. I’m loved. None of those things change based on my success or failure. If I publish a novel and people hate it, I’m still safe. I’m still loved. But what if I publish a novel, and people love it? If I think of it that way, then it’s a no-lose situation. There’s nothing to fear.

     I jumped on Etsy and ordered myself a pair of sterling silver safety pin earrings. Whenever I feel the fear and doubt creeping in, I reach up and pull on a safety pin. I tell myself, “I’m prepared, and I’m safe.”

      I’m confident Mrs. Aswell is somewhere reading this with a smile. She would love to know her story is still helping others. If you suffer from imposter syndrome-If you have been letting fear and doubt hold you back, maybe get yourself a safety pin, and remind yourself of your worth. Take a moment and comment below with a dream you really hope to achieve. Sometimes the first step is just voicing it. (or in this case, typing it.) 

     If you have a friend struggling, get them a safety pin, and tell them they’re safe. Give them the gift of your unwavering love and support. It could make all the difference. The value of a safety pin is probably a fraction of a penny. But it’s meaning? 

It’s priceless.