We’ve been talking about risk-taking here at Go Figure recently - wondering if it’s a necessary step in order to make progress or to move into new arenas. When I thought about it, my initial reaction was, I do not move out of my comfort zone. After raising two kids with my husband for 27 years, I’ve enjoyed the efforts it took to get and stay in “a comfort zone.” If I wanted to move out of my career comfort zone I would have to move from my home where I work, create, and challenge myself daily as a marketing director, graphic artist, freelancer and company coordinator.
Then I started thinking about my hobbies - downhill skiing and paddling outrigger canoes. With paddling, I take risks every week – wondering the night before an excursion if I might accidentally Huli - tip the canoe over. I’ve been paddling since 2000 and huli’ed more than seven times.
At the beginning of the season, we Huli on purpose by tipping over the 400 pound, six seater canoe, so we know how to recover in case of an accident. My least favourite Huli practice was a few years ago in a specific type of canoe with a skirt that is zipped up tight around our waists to keep us enclosed and the cold water out. The practice was in the summer (water temperature is bearable unlike in the winter) and we were close to shore but the water was still deep. The anxious feeling I had as we rocked side-to-side getting ready to tip kept me wondering: “Why am I doing this? Am I nuts? Oh no! Here we go! Shoot! Darn! We’re about to . . . ” and over we went. Now talk about being out of my comfort zone.
Trapped in by the skirt, upside down, underwater, pushing legs, my hands frantically looking for the zip, holding my breath, and feeling stuck, useless, and scrambling, knowing kicking won’t help - forget screaming. Still holding my breath, thinking of another way out of the chaos, struggling with the zipper, seeing only reeds around me and the face of a colleague watching the process . . . knowing I was still upside down with our giant red canoe above which seemed to have engulfed the ocean - I thought, “How long have I been at this?” Then suddenly: Pop, I was out of the canoe and got my head above water.
Did I enjoy this? ”No!” I was way out of my comfort zone. Yet, I still do this every year. Why? Because I love paddling - the physicality of it and being surrounded by the peace and tranquility of nature and marine life. Every paddle trip has its challenges but each paddle starts a fresh, new day of feeling utmost alive and healthy. I have competed in paddle races as short as twenty minutes, and as long as almost three hours. Paddling for 4 ½ hours, for one race, in a day was my biggest challenge. The adrenaline kicks in when it’s needed and the race always ends with personal gratification.
I think maybe we all have careers and hobbies that challenge us further than we can imagine - the rewards are the skills learned, the re-newed confidence and dreams of future achievements. So I guess I do move out of my comfort zone more than I originally thought. What about you?
C.O.
Fresh food! The Insalata Caprese Salad was one of the hits of our recent barbecues. Follow this simple recipe below to create yours. You can substitute slices of mozzarella in this recipe if you can’t find bocconcini, just make sure it’s freshly made.
