I'm an odd being, really. I get bored easily, as many Geminis do. I like change. But I also love my comfort zone. Stepping outside it has me in fits of anxiousness.
For the past year or so I've been speaking to a counsellor. I've mentioned it a few times here. We first started off working through my body issues and helping on the path to self-love, and for the past six months or so we moved into a different direction. Julie has been my life coach, helping me move towards my best life.
We've set goals, ticked them off the list and worked through other things. In the past few weeks we've talked about stepping outside of my comfort zone. Julie asked me to write a list of things that would push me. She assured me that I might not have to do them, but it was good to have a list all the same.
I was hesitant with writing the list because I knew at some point I was probably going to push myself to do them {with some gentle nudging from Julie}. I knew I was never going to go bungee jumping or sail around the world solo.
So what was I going to do? I wrote down just two things: run and speak in public.
Both of these things give me the he-be-jeebies. I watch people speaking into microphones and I wonder how on earth they do it. Firstly, on the practical side - are they yelling or speaking with their normal voice? I'd probably hold the darn thing at my torso and have everyone straining to hear a word I said.
And running? After being
scarred in the past by people being unkind whilst exercising, I get a little anxious at times. {Isn't it funny how one random event can change the way you feel for years?} Walking is one thing, but if I ran - what would people say?
The day after we spoke about the list I went to a local park for a walk with my Ma, Lil Sis and Lacey. We were just walking along and I mentioned to my sister that I'd like to try running. My Lil Sis is a personal trainer and PE Teacher, so she was all 'yeah!' and 'let's do it!'. I didn't plan for it, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I wanted to run. I hadn't run for 4 years. I didn't think I could. But I put one foot in front of the other, and we ran. I pushed Lacey in the pram and she was excited by the speed at which we moved.
"Just to the grey car," my sister urged me.
"I think I can even do to the white car," I replied without sounding out-of-breathe.
My legs took me to the white car {about a minute or so of running} and then we went back to walking at a steady pace.
I grinned from ear to ear. I ran. I ran! I turned to my Ma and said,
"I ran!""I'm not surprised," she smiled,
"You've always been fit."Five minutes later we ran again. Lacey was in heaven,
"Wheeeee!"So I ran. I haven't run again since. I'm not ready to do it alone. But I will, one day. As for the public speaking? Well, watch this space. I might just be coming to a microphone near you.
P.S. I know a few of you have emailed to ask about Julie and how to get in touch with her. You can visit her site here for more details. Do you ever exit your comfort zone? What would be at the top of your list?
