Monday Musings – Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone – Literally

 

I had rehearsed my presentation, checked my outfit, and prepared myself to stand in front of a room full of people. I was ready. Then the host of the event told me, “People usually take off their shoes in this space.”  Suddenly, I wasn’t just stepping outside my comfort zone—I was stepping outside my shoes.

I was invited to present about my creative journey through comedy. Little did I know that I would add fodder to my stories just by showing up. Standing inside the room, I looked down at my bare toes glaring back at me through my black sandals with the Velcro buckled strap. My little piggies were slightly prepared for viewing.

My pedicure from a month ago was barely hanging on. The lavender polish I selected was clinging for life at the edges of my toenails. Over the years I’ve learned to become comfortable speaking in public. However, I’ve never had to speak in public…barefoot. The theme of the presentation was ‘resilience.”

Before I even began my talk, I practiced resilience. I could have become apprehensive about taking off my shoes with no means to cover my toes. Instead, I shined a light on the situation. After I was introduced I told the group, “When I learned it is customary to remove your shoes in this room, I was worried you would see my hammer toe. Then I wondered – with my hot flashes, what else could I remove.”

The room erupted with laughter, I transitioned into an ice breaker, and everyone was relaxed including me. Sometimes you have to venture outside of your comfort zone. You just might discover something you like.

When was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone? What did you discover about yourself?

 

Fun Friday – Blessed Are the Candy Givers

 

There I was, sitting peacefully at church, when an innocent offer of candy sent my taste buds on a journey they did not consent to take. It was my fault. I asked my friend for a piece of candy. My throat felt like the Sahara Desert - dusty and dry.

It was one of those days where I probably should have spent a little more time building a relationship with rest. My energy was like the gas tank of my car, leaning toward low. My breakfast consisted of a homemade smoothie and a handful of lightly salted peanuts (my snack of choice).

I often travel with snacks – gum, nuts, fruit snacks, but that day I was running late for church service. After arriving at church, I hydrated with a cup of juice from the snack table in our fellowship hall. I didn’t want to drink too much for fear of having to create my own intermission during service and dip out to the restroom.

The juice soothed my tonsils and other parts of my throat’s anatomy…until mid-way through service. The dryness found its way home; my throat felt like it had been lined with dryer sheets. Now we’re at the heart of this story…

My friend who is also a snack carrier was wearing a large brimmed fancy hat.  I had to tilt my head and duck under her hat to whisper my request for a piece of candy. She rummaged through her purse and handed me a small nylon bag with a drawstring. Inside was an assortment of hard peppermint candy, soft peppermints and cough drops.

I opted for the cough drop…and thus began the topsy-turvy encounter with my taste buds. I expected a menthol taste that would open my nasal passages. What I received was something closer to an encounter with the laundry aisle at Walmart. That little piece of Fellowship tasted like Febreze, original scent.

Yes, I’ve tasted Febreze. It was after I sprayed one squirt too much into the air. The mist landed on my lips. The original scent is my favorite…to smell, not to taste. I ate the cough drop I had chosen as though it was my last meal. Who was I to be picky? I selected my tastebud fate.

Blessed are the candy givers, for they shall inherit… my immediate suspicion about what exactly I just put in my mouth.

The moral of the story – we always have choices. Sometimes we make the right choice, but when we don’t, we can find humor in the situation.

What is one situation you found humorous this week?

Monday Musings – The Day I Almost Became Part of the Exhibit

 

Life is too short to be embarrassed; This is what I told myself the day I almost became part of an exhibit. As a result of this episode I stumbled upon my new mantra – I may be aging, but I’m still rocking the boat.

You’re probably familiar with the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, take good look at the photo included with this blog post; it has a story to tell.

It was an atypical workday, the rare occasion where I escort a group on a trip. We enjoyed a tasty dinner that was pleasing to the palate. As we waited for the entertainment to begin…I became the entertainment. It was comical, but I was not performing comedy.

A large group of us stepped outside of the venue to absorb serene atmosphere- a sandy  ocean front, the sun setting, and a relaxing fire pit. I would be remiss if I did not mention the replica sailboat that sat on slats near the sandy area. It was a perfect spot for photos.

I watched as several people posed standing in front of the sailboat or sitting on its edge. Then it was my turn, I excitedly plopped on the front edge of the boat. It rocked, swayed…almost capsized.

I hoped up, took a bow, and asked those who took pictures before me, “why didn’t you warn me?” That replica sailboat couldn’t handle my hips. There should have been a warning sign, a weight limit, something to deter me from mounting that boat.

One of my travelers was doubled over with laughter. When she caught her breath and regained her composure, she began singing, “Rock the boat, don’t rock the boat baby. Rock the boat don’t tip the boat over.”

I joined the clamor, raised my arms as though I had just received a score of 10 on a balance beam dismount. In that moment, I realized you’re never too old to make a spectacle of yourself.

Below are 5 ways you can survive embarrassment by finding the funny.

1.      Give yourself permission to laugh.

2.      Change the question from “Why me?” to “Why is this funny?”

3.      Use humor as a reset. A good laugh can change the emotional temperature of the entire situation.

4.      Ask, “Will this matter 5 years from now?” If not, you might as well enjoy telling your story.

5.      Celebrate your ability to recover. Sometimes the funniest part isn’t what happened but how you handled it.

I’m learning to grow older without growing too serious. How do you handle an embarrassing situation?