My Comfort Zone ... a true love/hate relationship

Last week I came to the realization that I have a true love/hate relationship with my comfort zone.  Once again I have Slyck to thank for helping me to see this.  This isn't really anything new, just something that I finally see how it touches all aspects of my life - not just how it directly applies to this wellness journey.

Back when I was just 6 years old I started taking piano lessons.  My very first piano teacher was Mrs. Goodman.  Picture if you will the stereotypical "school marm."  She was slim, wore her white hair pulled back in a bun all the time, had glasses and was tough!  I remember practicing a piece of music she had assigned over and over and over again.  She expected perfection and would push until she got it.  I sat one afternoon practicing Solfeggietto and getting so frustrated that I couldn't get it "just right" that I hauled off and kicked the piano.  Of course, I happened to kick the sound panel and it popped off and into the piano.  My parents left it that way as a reminder to not loose my temper.  Thing is that I knew what Mrs. Goodman's expectations of me were and so I pushed myself to meet them.  There were times when I cried from pure frustration, but I never quit.  I didn't like being pushed out of my comfort zone, where it was difficult.  After Mrs. Goodman died, I had a couple of other piano teachers who would assign music that I was able to sight-read easily.  I didn't push myself.  I didn't practice nearly as much.  And, I got bored.  Once in high school I began lessons from Mrs. Lancaster and once again found myself being pushed and challenged.  To this day - Mrs. Goodman is my favorite piano teacher (with Mrs. Lancaster a very close second).  

Looking back I see this pattern in other areas of my life.  Anytime I've been pushed outside of my comfort zone I complain (ok - I whine) and whinge about how hard it is, how much work it is, and once it's done I look back and see it in a new light.  I enjoyed it.  I like the feeling of accomplishment once it's all said and done.  I don't like being put into a position where I don't know how to do something, how to handle it easily.  It spooks me a little.  Of course this triggers one of my biggest fears - failing.  In order to avoid failing I will push myself to learn, to do it right, and to succeed.  And once I've done that, whatever the challenge was is now a part of my comfort zone.  I *know* how to do *this* now.  I did it!  And that reward suddenly makes all the hard work worth it.

Over the past few weeks, Slyck (my trainer) consistently has pushed me out of my comfort zone.  And true to form, I complain the entire time.  However, once that particularly hard session is over, and I've survived, I suddenly feel great and want to do it all over again (and usually get that chance just 2 days later).  

I've learned that while I love having a safe place - a comfort zone - where I'm confident in what I can do,  if I stay in that comfort zone too long I get bored.  I thrive on the challenge - on pushing myself beyond what I already know how to do.  I look forward to being presented with new challenges.  Of course, I'm going to complain about them when they show up.  ;)

Until the next challenge ... 

Bloom where you are planted

My mother has often reminded me over the course of my life to "bloom where you are planted."  I've always taken this to mean that I should strive to do my best in all aspects of my life regardless of the situation.  I could be living in Maine, New York or Texas - and I should make the best of it.  I could be working in a job that isn't my "dream job" but I should still put forth my best effort.  It is a lesson I thought I understood and did a decent job of incorporating in my approach to Life.

There is more to this simple lesson that what appears on the surface.

A lot of sermons have been built on this simple old saying.  I'm sure many mothers have passed on this tidbit of wisdom to their children.  Many of us may have felt that we've taken it to heart and live our lives according to this tidbit of wisdom.  It wasn't until I saw Myrtle - I mean truly saw Myrtle - that I understood just what is meant by "bloom where you are planted."

This is Myrtle.

 Myrtle is a purple Dwarf Mexican Petunia that grows in the crack between the concrete of my carport and the base of my house.  I don't have Mexican Petunias planted anywhere in my yard.  My neighbor next door (Eula) does have purple and pink Mexican Petunias in her flowerbeds.  I suppose Myrtle decided that she needed her independence and somehow managed to end up in my carport. For the longest time I tried to get rid of Myrtle.   I never watered her.  Sometimes I attempted to pull her up, but she always came back.  Where Myrtle is planted gets little sun and little to no water.  She is alone - there are no other flowers to keep her company.  And yet, she blooms and survives.  A few days ago I saw that she had at least 5 blooms out.  This little flower has won my heart.

Myrtle has shown me that it's not just a matter of doing your best - it's also about fighting and struggling to overcome obstacles in order to show your worth.  It's about finding happiness in spite of struggles.  Myrtle has shown me that you have to keep trying, you don't give up, you dig in your roots in order to have the strength to bloom in the face of overwhelming odds.  And once you've bloomed - then you give it your all.  That bloom - so full of color - is like this burst of happiness.

Every morning when I go to my car I say hello to Myrtle.  Every morning I hear my mother's voice reminding me to "bloom where you are planted."  Every day I try to do just that.

All because of a Dwarf Mexican Petunia named Myrtle.

Do you bloom where you are planted?  Have you ever been planted somewhere you felt you had to struggle in order to bloom? How did you overcome that? What are some of your personal "fertilizers" - things that help you bloom brighter?

It's Official - I'm An Athlete

One week ago Monday, I became an athlete (so says my trainer).  I endured that rite of passage that anyone who answers to "athlete" must endure.  Did I complete my first 5K?  No.   Did I win a medal?  No.

I pulled a groin muscle. 

But here is the best part, how I actually pulled said groin muscle was about as non-atheltic as you can get.  I wasn't running or jumping.  I wasn't lifting weights.  What *was* I doing?  

Sitting in a chair.  At choir rehearsal.

Go ahead and laugh.  Trust me, I did too.  It is funny.  I went to cross my left leg over my right, and realized I couldn't lift it.  Try as I might, I simply could not lift my leg no matter how hard I willed it (c'mon - you can do it, just lift and cross .... AGH!).  It wasn't until I actually stood up and tried to walk that I realized it was injured.

I used to hear about people who pulled a groin muscle and couldn't understand what the big deal was.  I had pulled muscles before, and even though it hurt I could still function.  Let me tell you about a pulled goin muscle - it freakin' HURTS!  I swear I couldn't lift my left leg for 3 full days.  I limped around, winced anytime I had to step up for or step down from a curb (or stairs).  I sat with an ice pack on my upper thigh for 4 evenings in a row.  Really threw off my routine of exercise.  

Thankfully it's all better now and I can get back into my regular exercise plan.  Of course now I have the title of "athlete" to help motivate me to work even harder.

Stay positive.  Do your best.  Be happy.