Comfort Zone

So I was watching Real World This week (Yeah I know reality tv is a problem for me). And at one point one of the girls was nervous about taking on a photography challenge but also stated that it was EXACTLY what she needed. My initial was reaction was "holy crap this girl intentionally wants to go out of her comfort zone",, and then my second thought was 'not good these kids are going to take over the jobmarket and they like to do things they FEAR! I cannot compete! haha"


So a few weeks ago one of my friends told me that I should go out and find activities that I love to do and give myself things to do besides blog, farm and watch tv on dvr!! (yeah she thinks my life needs work,, she's probably right but all those things are SUPER FUN!). She suspected that my limited 'activities' were keeping me from reaching my 'trifecta' goals... that I was giving too many excuses.

(ps I love and hate friends that are so dead on accurate about my personal dramas!)

Anyway....

So I've been trying.

First I went line dancing, one of my fave things to do during my time in PA was go to the local bar and have dinner and do some dancing. It started as a way to get cheap wings and beer (still a Buffalo girl here people!),, but it ended up being a really fun time and it made my love of country music really flare! I had a blast then and so I was lucky enough to have Kevin volunteer to come with me to try my hand at doing it again. We had an absolute blast and I loved trying to pull from my memories the moves and excitement. I also loved hearing the music again, seeing the couples dance (mostly older folks which is so something to aspire to), and belt buckles. Awww shucks! It was fun. The most fun was when they taught a couples dance and Kevin and I tried to do it together. Thankfully a couple behind us in 'the line' also was still learning so we weren't messing them up. It was awesome. Kevin tried really hard to learn and we laughed and joked and my favorite moment was when they said 'and now vine to the right' and Kevin said 'what the hell is a vine!!!". hahahaha Awesome. It was super fun and such a great new activity for me to be a part of.


Tonite we're going to go out of our (my) comfort zone, and going to a 'young adult' mass and happy hour to follow. The mass I can handle perfectly fine as I'm just required to sit and listen and do the obligatory hand shakes and prayer retorts. However the 'happy hour' afterward.. Makes me freak FREAK out. Why you might ask? Its just a happy hour, Kevin will be there,, its all to meet and greet more fab peeps with the same values and all that. Well first let's be clear. I dont HAVE to have a reason to freak to do so.... frankly some of my 'best' freakouts were totally unrationalized.

OKay so why am I freaking..Well when I was in NYC I very much found religious activities to be healing and help me work through harder moments whether the moments be my dramas or those around me. You see while I was in NYC I was very aware of all the pain I myself and those around me were carrying and as someone that inherantly cares too much about both the people that I care about and those I dont, well it was exhausting and I was thankful for the opportunity to let God take over and not worry through it all.

(and this is why this blog is called my meandering thoughts...)

So I decided to take something that helped (religion) and find others with the same feelings. I joined a social group and went to a church and 'happy hour after'. It was HORRIBLE. The mass was great, but of course I sat by myself feeling shy and scared and 'less than'. But I pushed through my comfort and went to the happy hour afterward. That is where it got horrible. I met tons of people, but most of them already had 'their crew'. We met at a restaurant where they all went to 'their tables' and the few of us that didnt get a table were forced to stand around the bar area and chat. Which I guess was the point in the first place, but it was SOOO awkward. I stood and was introduced to two or three people and then they'd say hi and go back to their conversations and I would just stand there and it was awful.

I never went back to another one of their events and I am trying to push my own comfort zone tonite, again with my favorite ally. Which may make the difference. I hope so. :)


Do you push yourself out of your comfort zone? Do you intentionally try to reach beyond what you think your capable of to get a thrill or do you try to grow personally for yourself or for others? Why do you do that!? when did you do that?

and also for fun,,,,
Let's take a poll of how many drinks I'll need to survive;)
hahahahah

I'll start

I think ill need 300:)
just kidding!!