Backpacking around the world in 1978
Back in 1978, I undertook a year of travel around the world by myself. I was supposed to be going with my boyfriend, and my parents assumed I was, But that’s a story for a different time. Point is, I was on my own to meet people and have my own adventures. Hong Kong, Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), Nepal, India, Greece, Israel, and to places in Europe to visit the new friends I had met further east.
People told me how brave I was. It actually didn’t feel that way. Oh, yes, I had a few experiences along the way where I had to summon great courage, like when I was on a hike in the Golan Heights and the only way down was to jump into a gorge 35 feet below. You can read about that here.
Following curiosity and newfound inner peace
Most of the time, though, I felt just the opposite. Like I was learning to follow my interest and curiosity. Most of the time, I felt very safe, except walking past cafes in Greece or standing squished on an Italian bus, where the men had a different idea of respectful boundaries and acceptable behavior.
What I learned was that I could summon my courage and fighting instinct when needed. I also grew to love and appreciate a certain ease and peace within. It was something totally new for me having grown up in a loud and angry home.
Now granted, I had very few responsibilities: Find safe food and water, a place to sleep, open my eyes to new cultures, make friends, keep safe. Write letters home of my experiences.
One day as I was sitting by a lake in Pokhara, Nepal, with my newly shaved head and journal in hand, I thought how at peace I felt. And that if I were to fly home to New York the next day, I’d probably have to admit myself to an “insane asylum.” I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Stretching your comfort zone when speaking and being seen
Nowadays, as an entrepreneur seeking to make an impact, I’m aware of the voices all around that tell us to go outside our comfort zone. That the magic lies where we are not comfortable.
This is especially promoted around ideas of visibility, being seen, and speaking. The message is you just got to get past your feelings and do it. I tried that for the first two years of my business and it sucked.
Perhaps I’m an outlier. I don’t like living a life on the edge of stress and danger. I do, however, enjoy being challenged in an area I already feel somewhat comfortable. This feels more like stretching my comfort zone and making it bigger.
We do, for sure, need to be brave at times. But when it comes to something we do on a daily basis, maybe there is another way.
What about you? If you had the choice, would you want to feel like speaking and being visible is something you love to do? Or do you enjoy the adrenaline rush of pushing through fear?
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