It’s funny to think about comfort zones. Every individual is different, so what is commonplace for one person is stepping way over the line for someone else. I think we forget sometimes that we are all unique individuals: we all have quirks and habits and patterns that make us who we are.

Who is LA? One of the hats I wear is one of a blogger- I have the hat on right now. I blog just about every day. But you know what? As I sit here in my blogging hat, at my desk, in front of my laptop, I am way out of my comfort zone.

So…to answer the question, “When was the last time you were out of your comfort zone?” the answer is right this very minute.

I love to write. I love to think about things and put my ideas on a page: that is natural and easy for me. What’s difficult is hitting the publish button.

I am an introvert. I rarely introduce myself to others. I am most likely the person observing in the corner. Talking to people does not come naturally to me. So yes, putting my ideas out to the world every day is terrifying. Pushing PUBLISH is putting me way out of my comfort zone.

I might do a once over of my work, but anyone who reads me on the regular knows I’m not overly diligent about punctuation, spelling or grammar. If I look at my writing too long or too hard I will simply end up with a very large draft folder. I would second guess myself into distraction.

It takes courage for me to put myself on the page. I give you my real feels- I rarely hold anything back once I start typing. And sometimes I get critiqued or criticized. Does anyone really want to get unsolicited opinions about their lifestyle? I’ve been told that I should really watch the food I eat, and that people really hope I exercise a lot. I’ve been told that the skin care products I use are crap and I really should take better care of my skin. Lots of comments about my parenting style. Lots of passive aggressive comments. Don’t worry though- I can handle these things. I can even just let the majority of these comments slip by…though not replying in a snarky manner can also be quite difficult.

So yes- hitting publish every day puts me right out of my comfort zone. Every day. Twice a day in bloganuary.

60 thoughts on “Bloganuary Day 3: When was the last time you left your comfort zone”

  1. Good post! I am eating Cheetos jalapeno mac and cheese for lunch(My son bought it)–so I am in no place to comment on what anyone eats. I really need to get to the grocery store. I think everything you post looks delicious–especially when you were talking about ramen recently. Love your museum pics also.

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    2. THAT IS SO FUNNY!!! I actually was craving Ramen and had it the other night. It was a guilty pleasure. Oh wait. Are you talking Top Ramen or Ramen Ramen?

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  2. I thought I would have a spontaneous answer but….well I guess meeting the group of women at the Cafe. I only go Mon – Wed-Friday and sometimes not that often. I am viewed as being gregarious and outgoing – the fact is I am terrible at ordinary conversation. I can get myself into a pretending social chatty mode but really am happiest letting others blather one. I am just not a fan of continuous conversation and that is what this group is like. Three times a week I can usually enjoy it well enough but two times is even better. Once there was only me and one other woman. Long uncomfortable silences. I just don’t understand why people have to fill every moment in chatter. I can honestly say lockdown has not to been that hard for me. Chris

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      5. Yes, so do I. Then I go home and think about everything I said and what they might be thinking and it’s painful. I’m trying to just listen, like it seems that others do when I’m gabbing incessantly. Sometimes I wonder if people think,” she doesn’t get out much. “. Oh well.

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  3. This post made me remember when I was much more active on FB and got those trollish, unsolicited, unnecessary comments. It was so hard not to engage and then I just stopped FB except to play a few games. I continue to be reluctant to cultivate a big following here. I am thoroughly comfortable with my small, core group, so clearly this challenge won’t find me clamoring for multitudes of new followers!

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    1. I don’t get too many passive aggressive comments (a few years ago I did stop interacting with one reader I felt was just trying to unnecessarily provoke me) but now if I get one I write the snarky answer I would give in my journal. I’m sure they will show up in other things though

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      1. Hi Matt, I appreciate the interest. Did that comment sound rather aloof…or worse?! I like to know my readers and have grown close to those who read and comment so it’s never been about gaining tons of people who follow but never interact. I try not to be a silent lurker with the blogs I follow as well…I hope that makes sense. I’m doing that WP challenge this month, forcing myself to post everyday. The regularity will likely drop off after that. I hope you find something of interest, and welcome!

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    1. Honestly, hitting publish is the hardest thing I do every day. Exposing yourself for who you really are is tough. And I remind myself that if everyone likes me, than I’m not being fair and honest with myself

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  5. I’m always envious of your foodie photos and wish I had that variety of restaurants to chose from, so I’m shocked that someone would make unsolicited comments on diet and exercise. I found it extremely difficult to publish initially, but with time it got easier and now I don’t even think about it. If I credit my blog with one benefit, it’s that I can now allow someone to read my writing…..well not all of it….

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      1. I forgot to answer the question – the last time I stepped out of my comfort zone was when I had to go on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) morning radio show to do an interview about my mother’s art exhibit last year. The CBC is a big deal here, so I wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity, but I’d never done a “live” interview before and found it nerve-wracking to have to think on my feet and be concise in a short time slot, even though I had sort of semi-prepared for it….plus it was at 7am, an hour I’m not usually awake. But I felt good about it after, and didn’t think I sounded too bad.

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  7. I wouldn’t have guessed that you were out of your comfort zone, you seem to be so self-confident! I am very glad you push out of your comfort zone because I truly enjoy your posts. It can be scary though, I agree, no matter how many posts one does. It does still take some courage to hit the publish button thinking what will people think? I console myself with the fact that people most likely already think I am crazy for I write about talking animals alot, so really, I have nothing to lose. LOL!

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  10. As an introvert, I totally understand the struggle! At times I feel very anxious about hitting the publish button. Sometimes I worry about it afterwards. It has gotten better over time, but…sometimes I want to have a personal blog without having to write about personal things.

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      1. I only feel that way about hard topic posts which are rare on my blog which is primarily visual. Case in point being the LGBTQI label post I did which showed that there isn’t a level of solidarity within that community as some people would think.

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  15. Wow, wow, wow! I would have never guessed blogging is outside your comfort zone! I love the robust discussions here. I’m impressed with your courage to keep hitting publish in spite of your trepidations. Kudos!

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  16. I’ve stayed in my comfort zone for most of my life. In my fifties, I stepped out of it a lot. When talking to my coach this morning, I realised just how much I’ve lost from retreating back into it again. But that’s why I hired her, to help me step back out of it again – this time professionally.

    Well done on hitting publish each day and overcoming the negative feelings. For what it’s worth, I think your responses are generally so balanced, which I do admire.

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  18. Thank God you step out of that comfort zone everyday LA, I love your musings, and discussions! I would not have pegged you as an introvert? I consider myself highly introverted even though some of my friends like to argue with me about this, but honestly I can spend enormous amounts of time with myself and I rarely get lonely. That might be considered weird and I own that completely, C

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  20. I’m impressed–that you find going public so tough after so much time, and do it anyway. You’ve got a good system going here–it’s working. And I’m shocked that you’ve had negative comments here, I what I think of as a safe zone. I’ve had only two in all the years I’ve been blogging, and they were from someone with a personal grudge. (I deleted the comments and they stopped. No point in engaging.) I hope you never get another mean comment. And maybe that uncomfortable feeling is part of the creative process for you.

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    1. For the most part it’s very safe space. However, a few years ago I wrote a blog that really pissed people off and a few people said some things so nasty I almost gave up blogging. I’d say I get at least one passive aggressive comment a week.

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  21. Oh, I can so relate to this! I am reading it right now, and it almost seems to be ME picturised out here (‘almost’, because I do pay attention to spellings and grammer😄). I, too, love writing. This is what I am good at. And yet I break in sweats every time I sit in front of my laptop. Hitting ‘publish’ is like an ordeal finally ending. And I wonder to myself, ‘just how HOW many times will it take for me to finally stop being a nervous wreck every time I write?’

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