No Wimps Allowed

Given the nice weather in the Seattle area, combined with the fact that I actually had time, I was able to ride my horse for the first time this year. (Rain and my nice, expensive show saddle don't mix well.)

Me and my pony

So what does riding my own horse in my own arena have to do with not being wimpy?

As I struggled to heft that heavy saddle onto my horse's back, I realized that my upper body strength is pretty pathetic right now. I used to be able to easily lift it. But when you don't do something regularly, you get weak...and wimpy.

Reading Chelsea's post about taking Krav Maga reminded me of a recent conversation I had with my sister. We both worry about becoming too entrenched in our comfort zones. Certain family members are, and they're afraid to do anything new or different. I think it comes with getting older. When you're young, new and different are a way of life. You take new classes, meet new people, have new adventures, live in new places. But when you're beyond college and have settled down into "life," these new experiences happen fewer and farther in between.

Now, you actually have to choose to seek out these experiences, because they're not an automatic part of your life anymore. And sometimes it's easier to settle back and get comfortable.

But comfort is for wimps...and for those with no upper body strength.

The Cornell website has some good tips on getting out of your comfort zone. I was glad to see that I'm doing them.

1. Say yes to more.

I invited a few author and blogger friends to do the Run For Your Lives zombie run with me this summer. Check out this video from a competitor. I can't wait!



2. Take a class that scares you.

Chelsea chose to take Krav Maga. My sister and I are going to take shooting lessons and go rock climbing. Guns freak me out and I'm semi-afraid of heights, so this will really push it for me. 

3. Join a club. 

After admiring two friends' gorgeous sweaters, they told me about Ravelry, an online community for knitters and crocheters. I joined and now I try to meet them weekly at a coffee shop to knit. (You should see the gorgeous stuff my friends make--there's not a doily or afghan in sight.)

Fiction writers are told to throw their characters into situations that make them uncomfortable because: 1) no one changes when they're comfortable and 2) if you don't, the story will lack conflict and be boring.

I, for one, don't want to stagnate or be boring. 

What about you? What things do you do to stretch yourself and get out of that wimpy comfort zone?