June 3, 2009
S.Logan comes through with some priceless advice

Posted at 6:57 pm, in: Uncategorized
Tags: S.Logan

OK, my regular readers, don’t be disappointed with the fact that I’m NOT trying to start a fight with Clever S.Logan, for once! No Jell-O Wrestling challenges over her most recent post. Here’s a taster for you:

It’s an obvious fact, but I’ll state it anyway: everyone likes doing what they’re already good at, and no one likes looking ridiculous. But it’s the people who pursue life without abandon, leaving everything on the floor knowing they can take nothing home, who have no regrets. Having put it all out there, they never have to look back and wonder “What if?” Instead, they wonder “What if I don’t?” To these types, the reality that who they are, what they love, what they’re good at (and what they’re not) may go forever unknown if they don’t lay it all out is enough to make living through those first awkward moments of a new experience not just bearable but desirable.

I wonder how many of us have hidden gifts, passions, or purposes left unnoticed and unused because we haven’t done the requisite legwork to discover them? How much untapped potential is lying dormant that could radically change our lives and the lives of those around us if we’d only venture beyond our limits and leave it all on the “floor”?

I don’t know how much we have in common. We’re still getting to know each other. I do know this, though, I have spent many years of my life working outside of my comfort zone and I know that it takes work. For example, most people think I am one of the most extroverted people they have ever met. In reality, that’s me fighting my natural tendency to turn inward and spend time alone.

My quote, or whatever you call it, on Myspace has been, for quite some time I might add, “No regrets! It might have been a mistake, but it was fun at the time.” I guess that about sums it up. The things I regret most in life are those things I was too scared to try.

A couple of years ago I lived in Florida. We used to go down to this place in Orland, Old Town(?), that had some rides. They had this Sky Coast–think bungee jumping–that I was always tempted to go on (I’m an adrenaline addict)–but I was just too scared. Since I have moved back to DC, I think about it all of the time. The first thing I told my cousin when he picked me up at the Orlando airport last week was that this time I had to do that. Unfortunately, the weather (God?) had a different plan and dropped a huge storm on us while we were driving there, but I was ready to do it. I can bet money I wouldn’t have regretted doing it, but I know that I have regretted I was too scared to do it for the last two years.

I live my life constantly putting myself outside my comfort zone. Although, to be fair, I think S.Logan has me beat at this point with her hip-hop dancing and Karaoke. OK, I would/have done the dancing. The singing in public, not so much. She’s right, though. It’s such a great way to learn about yourself. And, who cares if you’re bad at it. I have found it’s often not about how good you are at something, but rather how you deal with that. Like when a person falls. There’s no good way to fall, but we all (just me?) secretly appreciate that person who can laugh at themselves more than the person who runs away in embarrassment.

So, to steal a little from S.Logan, go out and live a little. Push yourself out of your comfort zone! “Leave everything on the floor!” (Does this chick follow basketball? There’s so much to learn about her!)