what is a comfort zone?

 So today I am doing something that is so far out of my comfort zone. I'm joining a group of people that I don't know for a hike 90 minutes away. Ummmm, hello, who is this?  Yes, I decided a few weeks back that I want to hike. I like to hike. No, I love to hike. When I lived in Hawaii I hiked a lot. A. Lot. Having my knee injury through prime hiking season is really what made me realize that I want to hike. There are tons and tons of beautiful hikes here in Arizona and I missed out on all of them because I hurt my knee at Thanksgiving. So now I'm trying to make up for it a little. We are getting into the heat of the summer so hiking will only happen early, early in the morning or up north. But I'm okay with that. There is no reason why I can't join these things. 

So, why exactly is this so far out of my comfort zone? Well, I'm joining a group of people that I don't know. That right there is usually a show stopper for me. Don't know anyone? Not going. Don't care what anyone says, I'm a true introvert and being around people I don't know is absolutely draining. But I'm doing it. Not only that, I'm bringing 3 other ladies in my van. What????  Yes, I'll have company there and back. Hello pushing the envelope. But it's time to push myself. I'm not ever going to get Hubby to do some of the things I want to do, so I need to learn to join groups I don't know and do things with people I don't know. So there you have it. My comfort zone has been pushed to the max. 

They say the larger your comfort zone the less fragile you will be. I don't believe that pushing your comfort zone in one area necessarily translates into a larger comfort zone in all areas. But I do believe that if you do things you thought you couldn't, whatever they are, they it is easier to do other things you thought you couldn't. So here I am doing things I thought I couldn't. Yes, I'm nervous. Yes, I'm a little scared. But I'm channeling that nervousness into anticipation. Instead of dwelling on what could go wrong, because everything could go wrong. I'm focusing on what fun it will be. And it will be fun if I allow it to be fun. So I am all in on this one. Charlie is handling it surprisingly well also. He has lined up a bunch of things to do today like clean his car, get the hedges trimmed in back. I'll come back to a new back yard. Yay. 

Okay, that's it the tree has grown. I'm off to get ready.