"If you are afraid of criticism...you'll never do anything."

This quote hit me between the eyes today. I saw it on one of the online forums I frequent. Although the discussion related to Juan Williams' recent firing from NPR, it touched on a basic fear I've struggled with my entire life. One reason for my not being more specific about the path I mentioned in a previous post has to do with this. (How do I bring it up without sounding as if I'm running off to join the circus??) Part of me wants to just "lay it out there", and the other part wants to keep quiet.