Sweet friends,
Excited to share the second post in my new series, “Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone”. My vision for this series is to push myself out of my comfort zone so that I begin doing things that I have until now been scared or uncomfortable to try. Nothing illegal – ha – or too crazy! But just sampling some of what life has to offer outside my comfort zone. To read a little more about the psychology behind why doing ‘scary’ things is good for us, please check out my first post, here.
Once Upon a Time
From the start, I think it’s been important to do a little self-reflection. Spent a some time this month thinking about who I am now and how far I’ve come in my 60 years on Earth.
Once upon a time:
- I was shy. My mother likes to say that my sister, brother and I hung onto the hem of her skirt whenever we went out anywhere. While I am still very socially awkward and uncomfortable (think Rain Man), I am no longer attached to my mother at the hip.
- I was an art education major. But my school district needed a librarian and I needed a job. The rest is history.
- I was a single mom. Working as a full-time librarian by day, waitress by night. While also taking summer school assignments, doing odd jobs at a vet clinic, taking care of an elderly woman dying of cancer, hosting a televised reading show. Learning to work on my AC and heat, to repair my roof, to caulk the bath tub, backwash the swimming pool. Balancing a check book that was always in the red.
- I was a mother. Of course, I still am. But mothering my adult daughters from my empty nest hundreds of miles away looks a lot different that it did when they were still under my wing.
- I was a librarian. When I needed cervical spinal surgery, had to make the decision to take FMLA without pay or retire early. I retired early from a job I had loved for 25 years. Had to totally reinvent myself.
I think it would be safe to say, that I have stepped outside my comfort zone in small ways all my life. But let’s see what I did to push the envelope this month.
Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone, 04.2018
Try not to laugh too hard at some of these things, girls! Remember I am 60, shy and a former librarian.
- Danced to music videos from Afghanistan at Brennyn’s bridal shower. Here’s a photo of my sister and me, attempting to move like everyone else was at the party. And then the whole group dancing in a circle. Brennyn tells me that the hand movements (arm extended upward in the air, hand cupped) should look something like the way you move your hand to replace a light bulb.
- Uploaded the Wikibuy app to my laptop, learned to use it (simple) and placed my first order. If you shop online, you, too, need to discover Wikibuy. Great way to find the best price on items for which you are already shopping. Learn about about it, here. Ordered a new perch and bed for my ‘girls’ and a Roku for the TV in my fashion haus.
[source]
- Figured out how to install Roku on my TV. Our ‘beloved’ (not) Spectrum cable is requiring that we rent a box for each TV in the house in order to access cable. Rather than renting 6 boxes at $30+ a month, Lauren introduced us to Roku. I purchased our second unit through Wikibuy on Amazon. Then installed it, which should have been as simple as reading the directions, and was. But following directions was a step outside my comfort zone. I kind of wanted to just jump in and try to figure it out without reading. And PC was in Germany so couldn’t help me.
- Tried the partial tuck on my tee shirt and wore it all day. Felt kinda trendy! And quite haute couture.
- Have stepped outside my comfort zone by using features on my Sony and phone cameras for the 52Frames photo challenge. Played around with changing the ISO setting on my phone to take these pictures of a Ferris wheel at dusk. The photo on the left was taken without adjusting the ISO. For the photo on the right, I lowered the ISO to 60 then did a little enhancement to the contrast on my computer later. These were taken for the prompt ‘circle’.
- Just learning how to use ‘panning’ in photography, too. Felt very uncertain about trying this technique. Just fiddled around with using it on my phone camera while PC pumped gas at Circle K. This was a car that zoomed by us.
There you have my attempts at doing something to shake things up a bit. While none of these activities really scared me, they all took me out of my comfort zone for sure. Felt good to stretch myself.
Your Turn
What have you done this month that felt a little uncomfortable or unfamiliar in a good way? In my blog reading this week, I came across a post by Karen Hume at Profound Journey. She talked about the importance of being our true selves. And questioned whether someone who has undergone plastic surgery to turn back the clock or undo overindulgence is being true to who they are. Karen ended her post by asking readers, “Is it important to you to look younger than you are?” Plastic surgery would indeed be stepping WAY out of my comfort zone, financially and physiologically!! Here’s the comment I left for Karen.
So thankful that you found my blog and left a message on the Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone post there. If I could wave a wand and have my pre-cervical spinal surgery neck without its waggles and wobbles, I would. I realize that my scar is a kind of badge that says I had this surgery and I have survived. Or more than survived, I have continued to flourish and live a wonderful life. But I would hope that my life would speak to that without a wiggly neck!
It has been my very limited experience through others that cosmetic surgery opens a kind of Pandora’s box. You start with one surgery and that multiplies and leads to more, and rather than finding satisfaction in your new, improved look, you find more dissatisfaction in every other part of your part. Snowballs things.
Here’s to being happy with who we are, inside and out! Maybelline makeup or Sephora. Padded bras or breast augmentation.
How would you respond to Karen’s question?
Do you have a post to share about stepping outside your comfort zone? If so, please link up with us below.
Hope you will take a few minutes to join me in visiting the blogs and reading the adventures of the other gals who participating in this series. Maybe we will both find something we want to try doing!
Thank you for sharing a bit of your day with me.
Hugs and kisses,
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
You did so much this month Leslie good for you! It was interesting to read about your life as well – some of that would definitely take you out of your comfort zone. I only had one this month – doing the AtoZ Challenge. I made it! Thanks for the link up and look forward to what we get up to next month!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
That A to Z challenge was a lot of work and planning but every single one of your posts was top quality and well thought out. That one thing was a whole lot of stepping out of the comfort zone!!
Christie Hawkes
Good for you for stepping outside of your comfort zone. That’s where all the growth happens–or so they tell me. I am somewhat of an introvert myself and a little on the timid side in many ways. Right now I am working with a consultant to improve the technical side of my blog and migrate to https. That is way outside of my comfort zone, but I’m pretty certain I’ll have a better blog–and a better understanding of the technology–when I’m done. Here’s to new adventures in our midlives!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I will be anxious to see the end product of your move to https. I started that way which was quite by accident, but read an blog post that said it was the way to go from the start. Now I need a facelift on my blog. Somehow a few of the graphic features that I liked best have fallen off or disappeared with the updates or backups or something. It’s always something.
I bet it would be safe to say that many of us bloggers are more introverted and that communicating through a blog is easier than socializing in real life. It is for me!!
Whitney @ Whitney à la mode
Look at you go! I’m impressed that you’ve tried so many new things! The Afghani dancing looks so fun. I wish someone could teach me how to do that. And I can never get my half-tucks to look quite right (or stay that way, for that matter) but you totally nailed yours on the first try!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! Not sure I nailed the half-tuck but sure wore it all day like I thought I had. You are so sweet.
The Afghani dancing was fun! I need to practice up for the wedding!! More dancing to come then in June.
Dara
Hey! I didn’t realize you are doing 52 frames – me too! I’m loving it so far. This is my first year. I will look for your photos from now on. Also great job at doing things out of your comfort zone!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay for US! Both doing 52Frames. I was a streaker for about 11 weeks and then life got in the way. But I am back again. Will look for your circle tomorrow! You are welcome to join us for these comfort zone posts. The more the merrier.
Joanne Long
Stepping out of our comfort zone is empowering. Once upon a time, I was called a shy and “high-strung” girl by my parents. I have always thought of myself as uncoordinated and clumsy. But if we build on previous strengths to move ourselves in new directions, it is not so scary. Like you, while I was a single mum of a daughter, I started a teaching career, took library education courses in the evening, taught citizenship at the community night school, tutored, worked in a bookshop, ran a household and dated. At 66, I’m back working for a year. I would like to improve my photography skills and to find an enjoyable physical activity
that I could try to master (maybe just learn) and enjoy in my 70’s.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Come join us for this link-up, Joanne!!! We will share again on the last day of May. Our lives sound very parallel. Working a half-dozen jobs to support our children. I have been subbing in the elementary libraries in my district since I retired but have had quite the dry spell since November. Missing the kids and that money. You might try swimming. I love to swim. But don’t do it very well. Or even walking. But walking in different locations to make it more interesting. And come join 52Frames!! https://52frames.com/get-started/
Gail
Yay good for you! You’ve tackled some stuff most of us would find a bit daunting. I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t done anything that’s really taken me out of my comfort zone for ages, so I need to find a few things!
Cindi
I’m in a regression funk right now. I stepped a little bit too far out of my comfort zone and I’m reaping the unpleasantness of all of that right now. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. And sometimes we just break even.
I’ll take it!
Juhlin Newkirk
Wow, what a great number of things you did! How do you feel now about trying even more?
Andrea@WellnessNotes
I love this! Stepping outside of your comfort zone is hard. I’m not sure I’ve done that in a while, but we are currently contemplating a pretty big move – to the beach. And that would be a huge leap out of my comfort zone… We’ll see…
pat
Great inspiration on many things! I’ve been stepping out tentatively since retirement. And you’re inspiring me to continue.
I wore tunic and leggings last night… which for me was out-of-the-comfort zone for sure! Might need to try that partial tuck next. 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, thank you, sweet Pat! Come on an join us for our next post on 05.31. We can enjoy a photo of you in the tunic and leggings!! I love that look but feel a little timid when I wear it. In fact, donated most of my leggings without having worn them. But tunics are so nicely forgiving of my 60 year old body. I like them with leggings and jeans, too. I think we can inspire our friends to try new little activities that will expand their horizons and their fashion sense. Come play with us!
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side
Love that you are stepping outside of your comfort zone. I need to think about what I can do to step outside of my comfort zone. I did that a while ago when I realized the one friend I had where I lived, was drifting away, so I had to go out and make new friends. It was super hard for me to do, but am so glad that I did it and now can call them good friends!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so active and busy and have such a loving extended family. Most people would think your ‘normal’ life is a huge step out of their comfort zone. How did you go about making new friends? I really need some that like to do things, branch out, try different activities. So many of my friends are retired teachers who are kind of retiring from life in some ways. I need a walking buddy, a barre buddy, a painting buddy.
Thank you for coming by, Sarah. Would truly love to hear more about how you made new friends!
Natalie
Bravos, Leslie! You’ve done great. Keep up your momentum! My response to Karen’s question was “I like me. My family and friends like me so it’s all good.”
Lydia C. Lee
I think it’s fun to get into dancing with other cultures – it’s funny how cultural it all is (the ‘normal’ of it…we think we’re universal until we’re moved out of our own ‘normal’)
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So happy to have you join us and to read about your shooting ambitions. Will look forward to being able to tell everyone I know the Olympic shooter from Australia.
The Afghani dancing was great fun and I hadn’t even had a sip of alcohol to ward off my inhibitions. Imagine with a cold beer, I could really cut an Afghan carpet!! I live on the U.S.-Mexico border and see those cultures bleed into one unique culture that is El Paso. The language, the Spanish and English, the food, the dance. Love my little town!
Daenel T.
Leslie, you’ve done a lot! Your reflection post was sweet and very much like mine would be… I’m incredibly awkward in person. Small talk freaks me out. But I do it because librarian and I have to make connections with people.
I also hate reading instructions. I tear things out the packaging, toss it, and then have to go digging through the trash for it later. LOL The Hubs, on the other hand, is very methodical and reads everything. Opposites truly do attract.
I like who I am and who I’m becoming. It’s taken me 45 years to get here.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Daenel, your last sentence is something I say a lot lately. In fact, I bought a tank top to work out in that says “Fall in love with yourself”. Wish I had done that so many years ago. And realized that only we can make ourselves happy. All of the rest is icing on the cake.
My PC reads the directions, too. Every word. While I am impatiently tap dancing around him ‘hurry up!’
I am so much better with children than I am with adults. Children with the exception of my step-children. I think I wanted so badly to be a mom to them that I pushed them away. Most of my students needed a mom-figure to love them and show them attention, and that was what I tried to do.
Thank you for your friendship. I think we are a lot alike. Yet I see you so radiantly confident. Maybe that’s just a newfound characteristic.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I need to step out of my comfort zone more! I think going to the blogging conference this summer will be stepping out a bit! I get nervous being around people I don’t know, but I know it’ll be a blast. I need to think of some other smaller ways to step out of my comfort zone, though! I love that you learned how to fix so many things as a single mom. And WikiBuy and Roku?! Never heard of these! Lol! I do need to look into our Charter acct. though. We spent so much and the kids rarely watch Charter anymore. We really just use the internet.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Danielle
I just love your dancing picture. The cutest. You look like you are having so much fun, even if you are shy. You are doing so many things outside your comfort zone! Great job! Thanks for starting this link-up.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you! Do you dance? We rarely (never) do, PC and I, but I like to dance. We took a country dance class several years ago but instead of teaching us 2-3 dances well, we attempted to learn a half dozen. And Paul and I didn’t learn any of them well enough to dance them! Boo! We need a refresher.
ShootingStarsMag
Great job on doing things outside of your comfort zone this month. I’ve definitely been trying to do that more in the past few years. Growing up with social anxiety made simple things really difficult to do sometimes. Not that it’s all easy now, but I’m getting a little better at trying new things, etc.
Your photos for the challenge look great! I’m loving the one with the car.
-Lauren
Laura
It’s good that you recognize what makes you feel a little uncomfortable and are taking steps to challenge yourself! All too often we become complacent and just stay in our bubble of familiarity. Good for you for actively trying to step outside of that and allow yourself to grow!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Why thank you! I think it is easy, the older we get, to get comfortable and stay there! I want to try to keep pushing myself as long as I can. Took my first Pure Barre class and thought I would surely die right there on the floor. But afterward felt proud and like I might even try it again. Ha!