Guess which one doesn’t belong
March 4th, 2008Things that might be happening in my life over the next two weeks, a list:
- Work.
- School.
- Dance practice.
- Work.
- School.
- Running!
- School.
- Work.
- Dance competition?!
I’ll leave you to guess which one out of that list is most terrifying to me. (Hint: It’s not work.)
In addition to fulfilling another item on my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days, this competition is a stellar opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. Hell, even just committing to compete in this competition was a step outside of my comfort zone. But I did it. And after I finished freaking out, I realized that I’m mighty glad I decided to do this competition.
In a lapse of something no doubt known as “insanity”, I even decided to take a stab at the jive and the paso doble (in addition to the samba and the cha cha) - and anyone who knows me will confidently tell you that I have spent a year of dancing, give or take, hating the jive. And now I’m willingly doing it? Insanity.
I can’t tell you that I’ll do well. I can’t tell you that I’m not nervous as hell. I can’t tell you that my Latin technique is good, or that this division of ballroom (as opposed to Standard) is my strongest. But I can tell you one thing: when it came down to deciding whether or not I was going to compete, the choices were as followed: Do it and grow as a person, or refuse to do it and be a coward. And I am not a coward.
So I’m doing it. And I know that by doing this, I’m pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone. When I first did public speaking, I could reference “zone-pushing” things like trying new things by telling myself, “I survived public speaking - I can survive this!”.
And after this, when it comes to scarier things like driving and not killing myself (or anyone else), I can tell myself, “I survived Gala Ball. I can survive this!“. And I will, because life has a funny way of proving that the very things you thought would be drop dead terrifying or horrifically horrible simply aren’t so bad after all.
So, like usual, I’m curious: Have you ever been faced with an opportunity you were terrified to take, but knew you’d be kicking yourself afterwards if you didn’t? What did you do about it? What has been your biggest “comfort-zone-pushing” experience? Was it worth the effort or fuss to go through with it?
First of all, loving the new layout.
I don’t actually remember many of these “stepping out of my comfort zone” experiences. I did though take a job where I had to stop tourists walking on the streets, where I would fake a poll, just to ask them if they had an intl credit card. Then I’d say they had won a price, and they’d go to an office where time sharing sellers tried to force them to buy.
That was way out of my comfort zone cause I am not good at cheating/coaxing people, and I don’t want to be it.
Reply: Thanks! :)
Oh wow, I bet that must have been pretty “zone-pushing”… It seems like for most people, things that involve the public, people, and speaking are pretty terrifying or just uncomfortable - like public speaking, door-to-door work, etc. But you know what they say: what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger!
March 4th, 2008 at 3:11 amYOU’RE DOING THE JIVE? I’VE SPENT SIX MONTHS LOOKING FOR A MALE JIVE PARTNER! Sorry, excitement. Ever since Strictly Come Dancing aired over here I’ve been wanting to do a jive.
Good luck!
As for me, I’ve never done anything out of my comfort zone. Except rock climbing and abseiling — the former I was pretty good at (amazing, really, considering my height disadvantage! :P) and the latter… well, I was eleven and I sobbed my heart out. At least I can say I’ve done it now!
Reply: Thanks! But aww, I love it when people are excited about dancing! :D
My best recommendation for finding a dance partner would be join your local university or college’s ballroom dancing club - I’d imagine it would be the same everywhere, but you don’t actually have to be a student, so you can join before you actually go to university. That’s what I did. It was great, because I could take classes with people somewhat around my age and everyone was there because they *wanted* to dance, you know?
And just so you know: The jive requires stamina. Some people find it easier than others (if you have shorter legs, you’ll probably find it easier) but I actually couldn’t make it through two minutes of the jive without wanting to die until I could run 3-4 minutes straight without wanting to die! But it’s totally, totally worth it because it’s a very fun dance. :)
March 4th, 2008 at 9:47 amHah! My comfort-zone-pushing experience was actually very, very similar to Regine’s - for the job I got & promptly quit a month ago, I would have to have spent 8 hours a day standing outside with a PDA, asking people to sign up to become monthly sponsors of a nonprofit organization. Perhaps I was a little too enthusiastic and forgot to clarify all the specifics beforehand, but I only realized what I was supposed to be doing after the first day of training and quit after the second, having spent an hour outside harassing people with my “panhandling”. There are few things money can’t buy, including my willingness to push my comfort zone to extremes :|
Good luck in the competition!
March 4th, 2008 at 11:12 amI’m so jealous! I feel like I don’t even get opportunities to go out of my comfort zone. Someday, though!
March 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pmI can’t really think of any “missed opportunities” right now (I’m sure I’ve missed lots of great opportunities in the past, but my attitude is usually something like “oh well, it’s in the past, I can’t do anything about it now” and I forget about it), but I do know that I need to step out of my comfort zone more. Usually I drag along other people to do things with me, so I guess the first step I could take is to try to be less dependent on others.
I love your “Sometimes” post, btw. And good luck with the competition — be sure to tell us how it goes! :)
March 4th, 2008 at 4:58 pmAsdfhjkdg new layout!!1~ The header’s just so fun to look at… nice job on this one! :) Grainy textured background ftmfw.
Good luck with the dance competition! I’m not entirely sure (…not sure at all, actually, but anyway) what it’s like at jive competitions, but at Irish comps it’s such a fun but intense atmosphere, and you feel so exposed on stage, yet the adrenalin rush comes in and then once the music starts… *does a jig* I love the stage, couldn’t imagine myself doing any other form of dance while being blinded by all those stage lights! (except maybe ballet… maybe…) Woooo.
I can’t think of any such opportunities either… although my memory really is a piece of crap. Oh wait… I had the chance to dance on a float at the Mardi Gras this year, and I’m nowhere near as brave or extraverted as that — not have I ever been. Didn’t even end up going… meh.
Do let us all know how the jive comp goes! :D
March 5th, 2008 at 3:33 amGood luck! I’m sure you’ll do well. Think positive xD
I tend to be afraid to do anything, but once I’m there, I enjoy it.
Reply: Oh, I’m like that too! I can’t even begin to tell you how many things I was afraid to start or thought I’d hate that I ended up loving. :P
March 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pmI think the biggest opportunity I took was my job right after graduating from art school. I was sooo scared about starting to work fulltime and getting out into the “real world” but I’m glad I took it. I was never confident in my art work so it was such a huge thing for me because I would actually be doing things for the world to see and my peers to judge and critique. This is totally different from the critiques you do in school too because this is a billion-dollar company and you just can’t screw up. =S
March 6th, 2008 at 2:16 pmGood luck for the dance competition! :)
March 6th, 2008 at 4:27 pmhehehe goodluck im entering the eastcoast dance competition here in new york so i know how you feel. -=]
March 7th, 2008 at 5:44 amI think it will be very very fun and exciting. Dance competitions usually give you the ‘oomph’ you need to perfect your moves.
My boyfriend took Waltz and Tango a while back. One of his friends found out and announced it to our mutual friends. I don’t think they’ll ever let him live it down =O (I thought it was cute)
March 8th, 2008 at 9:34 pmHey Chanel.. I loveee the new header! Your headers are always so interesting and aesthetically pleasing. Good job! =P
March 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pmCongratulations! Is this dance competition open to the public? That is, can I come watch and be part of your cheering section?!
The last couple years have been filled with “stepping out of my comfort zone” situations for me … too many to list! But that’s a good thing :-) I’ve never regretted any of them.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:34 am