Leaving my comfort zone

A few weeks ago, I decided to do something I have not done since high school. I saw an ad in the paper for banquet servers for the car show in Pebble Beach. Let me say for the record that I have NO interest in cars. But I wondered how I would do being a server after all these years.?

I applied with the Pebble Beach Company and was assigned to??three days of serving for the??Ferrari area. Fortunately, the??human resource person gave me great hours to work. I decided to do this to test myself. By the time I was six I was diagnosed with dyslexia in addition I had a stutter and a lisp. (Today I would be neurodiverse but in my day the kids called me a retard.) My triggers are well known to me by now.?

I hate to be discounted and looked down upon. When I found out I was to work in the Ferrari area I was delighted because I thought it was the perfect place to test my resolve. My goal was to see if I could be genuinely kind and compassionate to everyone no matter how I was treated.?

My assumptions were that people would look down on me. I wanted to see if I could keep my nervous system and my emotions peaceful and equanimous.

I started each day with a mediation on gratitude and did some stretching. I listened to a positive podcast during my commute. Friday was my best day. I worked from 12 to 6 passing appetizers, desserts, and bussing dishes. Surprisingly most people were delightful and nice. Of course, it was a fun event for most people and the sun was shining on the beautiful views.?

The staff I worked with was wonderful and my manager was a very sweet soul.?I wondered if it was my attitude that made the difference or were these people just pleasant due to the environment or the fact that many were extremely wealthy?

There were a few incidents that could have triggered me. I encountered a woman who I knew disliked??me. Usually, I contract internally when I feel somebody dislikes me. That day I said to myself that??I could see her point. We had walked one day together years ago, and I had talked too much about my career. This woman had had a stellar career she gave up to raise her kids.??It was very inconsiderate of me to speak about how much I loved my career, so I did not blame her for not wanting to see me again.?

There were a few instances of being dismissed but somehow they bounced off me with no effect. I had a great day. My back was sore from walking 6 miles with a tray but nothing some ice could not heal at home.?

It did take preparation and a conscious intention to create the mindset that no matter what happened I would be kind and peaceful. I did not?reach my goal to always stay equanimous on the first day or the last day, but I had one day of??achieving what I had set out to do.?

What did I learn from doing something outside my comfort zone?

1.?????The staff of these events work very hard physically, emotionally, and mentally. It was a humbling experience as a person who has been served for years and who had forgotten how hard it can be.?

2.?????The only thing I can control is my attitude and it can be cultivated through preparation and conscious work.?

3.?????It is important to continue to do things for your brain and your soul that might be uncomfortable as it keeps your brain and soul exercised like a muscle.??It helps you to learn more about yourself, what you are capable of and builds compassion.

So, why not do something outside your comfort zone and see if you learn something new or just relearn something your forgot. Humility is a virtue worth cultivating.?

I will leave you with a quote from Thomas Merton:

“Pride makes us artificial, and humility makes us real.”

Please leave a comment below of the last time you did something outside your comfort zone.?