Thankfully I'm not manic, because I do the same thing---I tend to over-promise. But I also am never certain how to respond to praise. I've been working hard on that first one, because that's the hardest; but with kudos I'm just so damned happy to get them because I was taught not to value myself when I was young, and it's taken me 55 years just to learn how to take a compliment.

I've talked this over with my family as well as a number of my friends, and most are like me---cautiously optimistic about my chances of success. I have yet to tell my pdoc that I've decided to take the job, but our relationship is such that while he may not be 100% thrilled, he'll be 110% supportive. That's just how he rolls. Besides, it's not like he hasn't had to pick up pieces of me off the floor before.....and who knows, I might not even fall on my face this time.