Hello, all you wonderful Posse folks! And welcome, June! Now just getting back from the beach, I normally would be in full-blown, back-to-work-Monday depression mode, but guess what? So not happening! I think it’s because I’ve really been leaving my comfort zone lately, stepping out and trying new things, and it’s made me more excited about life than I’ve been in awhile.
Took the belly dancing class last week and enjoyed it. Although I’m not the most coordinated person around, and the instructor did have to come over several times to help me adjust my circling hands properly and to help me get my hip “shimmy” right. But it definitely was WAY out of my comfort zone to be dancing in a room full of mirrors with a coin-bedecked sash tied around my waist, jangling all over the place. I tend to avoid mirrors most of the time, except for applying makeup, getting dressed, and blow-drying my hair, ha! But it was a cool experience, and I may go back for another class later in the summer. (Sorry for no photos, but I just couldn’t go THAT far out of my shell yet!)
Another thing I’ve done to leave my comfort zone is to get back into Jazzercise, and also to try Zumba. The Jazzercise came back to me fairly quickly (gosh, who knew muscle memory lasted THAT long?). And I’ve gotten about four Zumba classes under my belt; I haven’t fallen on my face or run into anyone yet, so that’s encouraging.
Also in Florida, I really wanted to go canoeing, but son and DH weren’t game to go, and so I had to pass. But I did spend a day at the beach, wearing my lattice-top tankini proudly, and didn’t feel like a beached whale, so I’m considering that definite progress.
So please share, what about you? What have you done recently or plan to do this year that’s way out of your comfort zone? Or a fragrance that you tried that normally wouldn’t be “you” at all, but you gave it a go?
Dearest Ann-
I so admire your push out of the comfort zone. Keep on keepin on. I hope to join you any day now. I suspect I need a little help with the push and some company on the good red road.
My new thing with scent is to combine a gob of “Egyptian Magic” with 3 squirts of ______ and rub on skin. I’ve loved your descriptions of body lotions but I never seem to aquire them.
Getting out of my comfort zone is a goal for me but one I’ve yet to make much progress on. I’m inspired by your post, Ann, and might sign up for either a belly dancing or a burlesque class soon…
I’ve been wearing After The Flood by Apoteker Tepe and that scent is firmly out of my perfume comfort zone, but I like it!
I’m trying to go in the opposite direction – getting further and further into a zone of comfort. 🙂 I’ve been thinking about health and wellness quite a bit over the past couple of years: doing more meditation, trying to eat healthier, and exploring options for managing stress (I haven’t been able to avoid it coming on – I’m only at the “management” step right now). I’m thinking about getting a far infrared sauna for home use. Any of you folks have any experience with these?
Hiya, Lisa! I hear you on the stress reduction; that’s a comfort zone I want to spend more time in, too! And make sure to include a cup of soothing tea post-meditation session 🙂 Not sure about that sauna, but it sounds like a neat thing to have. Let us know what you decide on it.
One Friday I went to a bouldering gym (waaaay outside my comfort zone!) with a friend and ended up having a blast. Now I’m considering getting a pass. It’s fantastic that you’re trying new things — I find that I benefit from the trying, even if I end up not liking the activity and never doing it again. I’m also on a weight-loss and fitness journey and trying new things has become a sort of reward/prod for myself.
Oooh, that sounds so cool! I’m impressed; I don’t think I would have enough upper-body strength to get through it, but it sounds like a great workout. And you’re so right; just getting out there and giving something new a try is exciting and a fun reward. Congrats on your weight loss and fitness plan!
I really should get outside my comfort zone more. Although in the past year, I left a twenty-year career in academia, and that’s been pretty uncomfortable. I’m still figuring out what’s next. But as for scent, I have been enjoying my sample of Armani Privé’s Iris Celadon — normally, I would hiss like a cat at a chocolate scent, but I’m digging this.
Howdy, Heidi! I know it’s hard to leave something that you’ve done for years; I was a newspaper copy editor for fashion/features for more than 25 years and I’ve had to branch out, and may have to expand my horizons yet again. Here’s to something fun and fulfilling in the future for you! And glad you are liking that Armani — the chocolate in it is subtle enough that it works well with the iris and other notes.
Ann, I enjoyed reading your post today–belly dancing, whoa!! Good for you. I should try it; I have plenty of belly for it. 😀 Currently, I’m doing all I can not to get sucked into others’ comfort zones, so I definitely have some work to do… Fragrance out-of-comfort-zone experience: Tom Ford Black Orchid. I have had a partial bottle for some time, but yesterday was the first time in years that I wore it. Interesting; didn’t last as long as I expected but fun while it did.
Hi, dear, and thanks! I have some belly to wiggle, too, but kept it under wraps in a long, roomy shirt and yoga pants. So glad you enjoyed the TFBO; sometimes revisiting something can be fun, especially if you like it more than previously.
Congrats on your progress! I started a better eating plan in January and am losing so weight, but not ready for showing too much skin yet…
Thank you! And good for you for healthier eating and losing weight — congrats! I don’t show much skin either; I have long swim pants (to cover a leg that swells from damaged blood vessels) and I belly-dance and Zumba in a wicking T-shirt and black yoga pants. I feel like I’m a little too old to be baring too much, ha!
I love the theme of this post 🙂 Zumba, jazzercise, or belly dancing would all be outside of my comfort zone, and I haven’t gone there yet…so many kudos to you for doing so, Ann.
I could definitely get out of my comfort zone more often. The only thing I’ve done recently that might count is trying some new recipes in the kitchen (a few Thai curries, which have been easier to make than expected!). I’ve also picked up and played my violin for the first time in at least a decade. It sounds pretty awful, as expected, but it turns out making music is still fun as long as I am playing with other people 🙂
Nemo, cooking new things definitely counts (what time shall I be there for dinner tomorrow? 😉 ) And I love that you are returning to the violin. I bet you’ll be back up to scratch in no time. I’ve always envied those with musical ability. Enjoy!!