Get out of your comfort zone

3rd July 2013

I have started weekly volunteering for Autism Support this summer. I will be helping with the children's activities and going on day trips with them. Today was my first day. So much energy in such a small room is REALLY tiring! Good experience and good fun, however. Volunteering is fantastic for gaining new experiences and boosting your confidence. One thing I have found that I have in common with the other Project Trust volunteers.. is that most of them volunteer too. We're all very volunteery! I guess that is what makes us want to embark on this year away. I used to volunteer in a homeless centre. I cooked lunch and did the tea and coffee. I learnt so much from that 6 month volunteer, definitely got out of my comfort zone.

Talking about getting out of your comfort zone! Have any of you heard of Vine videos on Facebook/YouTube? Well, there's this one guy who has a video about 'how to get out of your comfort zone' which I found really interesting. His name is Jerome Jarre and he's a French entrepreneur. He does some strange and crazy videos. Watch on YouTube: How to get out of your comfort zone with Jerome Jarre or follow this link (if it works..).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7njBebg6BYk

Training is in less than 2 weeks! WOW! It fees like yesterday that I was on selection course in Coll.. A few days ago I found out that one of my fellow selection course friends is one of my partners!! She found out really late what project she would be on! What a wait. I feel very lucky I didn't have any major swaps or waiting.

The most common thing I get asked is "Are you excited?". I find this a strange question to ask, and maybe I should just reply with "No, I am being forced to do this against my will". Maybe it's meant to be similar to a "How are you?" question because most people will reply with "Fine, how are you?". Hardly anyone is going to reply with "Absolutely awful, how are you?". Anyway, I was thinking. Do I feel excited? Not really. I've been fundraising for over a year now. I think the excitement will hit me a few days before/on the day. But to be honest, I think I have subconsciously cut that excitement off for just now, because with it comes fear. I am very scared, deep down. A year is a long time. Some nights a few months ago I would lie in bed and just feel absolutely terrified about the whole thing. What if I don't like it? What if I hate the weather? What if I miss home so much I'm just miserable? ....

With the wonder, beauty and joy that travelling and leaving home brings, is the other side too. Fear, sadness and anxiety. Ying and yang. You have to let both happen otherwise the experience is not whole and complete. I will embrace both sides and remind myself that the sadness and fear will not last forever.