As moms, we tend to get comfortable doing the norm. There is a kind of peace in the routine of a ‘normal day’. In fact, as a parent, your days can become quite monotonous… seeming to be almost like Groundhog Day, where it’s always the same old same old.
But we can’t get so comfortable in the routine that we cannot step outside of it. We can’t say ‘no thanks’ to invitations to go out just because it’s our little one’s nap time. Or respond ‘maybe next time’ just because we’re tired (because let’s be honest here, we’re always going to be tired).
I’ve Missed Out–
I am a creature of habit for sure. I’ve never really liked trying new things. Even as a child, I was always too cautious to attempt the unexpected. But as I’ve grown, I’ve come to the realization that stepping out of my comfort zone is not only a good thing, it’s necessary. And it’s not just something I need to do for myself, it’s something my daughters need to see as well. They need to see that trying new things is OK, even if you’re nervous or scared. That attempting something new might be fun, and even if it’s not enjoyable, that’s OK too… at least now you know if you like it or not.
I know for a fact that I’ve missed out on some awesome new experiences because I was too timid to try something I’d never done before. I’m sure I’ve missed out on delicious food because I wasn’t sure how it’d taste, so I just didn’t even take the chance. I don’t want my girls to miss out on things for these reasons. My oldest is just like me, and afraid of the unknown. She needs to see me challenge myself, so she knows it’s alright to be hesitant but to go ahead anyway. My youngest is a little more adventurous and not really afraid of trying new things, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t just as important for her to watch me step out and try new things too.
Racing to Try Something New
For example, I never ever thought I’d be someone who participated in 5K races. If you’d told me a decade ago that I’d end up doing 3 or more in a single year, I literally would have laughed in your face. But a few years ago, there was a FUN 5k in town, and it looked interesting. My husband and I got a group together and we ran the Insane Inflatable race. As soon as it was over, we had so much fun that we all agreed we should do another. Flash forward a couple of years, and we’ve now done that same 5k every year since.
This year I went WAY out of my comfort zone. I do NOT like being dirty, like at all (I’m a little OCD). Therefore, I do not like being sandy at the beach, getting dirty while camping, touching messing things, etc. While I may still do these things, I also cringe at the same time.
So I thought I’d really challenge myself and push to new limits. I signed up to do a Mud Run. Yes, as in crawling through dirt, mud, and apparently even gator filled lakes. Although to be fair, I was unaware of that final one until it was right in front of me, and at that point, it wasn’t really an option! Never in my wildest dreams would I, or anyone close to me, have thought I would not only sign up, but run this race, complete all the muddy obstacles, and truly enjoy it. Sure I winced, shuddered, whined a little, and maybe even complained a lot. But all with a smile on my face and while laughing with a great friend. And I’d do it again too!
Now, I’m not Miss Marathon runner for sure. In fact, I often share the meme that goes around Facebook about making sure you check with a guy’s family before marrying him to make sure they don’t run 5k’s on Thanksgiving and that they like to drink instead (my husband’s family, thankfully, falls into the second category). It makes me laugh because I would never imagine myself running on a holiday. But I guess never say never because I also never saw myself running 3 races in a year either. You never know what the future holds.
Just Try It
So, all of this to say, do the things you never thought you’d do. Try exotic food, go to unknown place, wear the new style of clothes, attempt a different sport, whatever it is! Who knows, it may become your new favorite thing! And if you hadn’t tried it, you’d never know what you were missing out on.
I’m not perfect with doing this for sure, but I’m working on it. And that’s what our children need to see… their parents working on bettering themselves each day. We need to show them examples of pushing out of our comfort zone and trying new things. To go along with that, we can also teach them to know their limits and trust their instincts too. They don’t have to try every new thing if it seems unsafe or if something just seems off. These two lessons can be taught together, and modeled so that our kids learn by our example.
Hopefully, this ends up teaching courage, confidence and gives our children the tools they need to step out of their comfort zone when presented with a new experience. There are countless benefits for ourselves too: It activates our brains, aids in creativity, helps us get to know ourselves better (we can have lives of our own that don’t involve our children every moment), lets us meet new people, and breaks up the routine of everyday life. So, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. It might just make you smile more than you thought possible.
