To the Sweet Summer Days

There’s a new girl in my youth group (Lifeguards) named Christina.  I’ve only talked to her twice, but she seems pretty cool, and we’ve got some things in common.  Anyway, I just sent her a facebook message asking if she’d like to hang out sometime.  This doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it was for me!  Just the fact that we’ve only talked twice - and not for very long - and I was afraid she might think I was a creeper for asking her to hang out when we hardly even know each other’s names.  Silly, I know right?  But I sent her a fb message and even gave her my number to text me back a reply if she wanted to.  It really isn’t ‘creeper’ like at all, because we are both girls, so there isn’t any of that “whoa, is that a flirtatious move?” type thing.  But you know, my juvenile worries still need to be broken. 

I have gone outside my comfort zone!!

Actually, I did this for Lent this past year and failed miserably, but we won’t talk about that. 

I have issues with keeping on things - as in, not quiting.  So I really hope that I don’t just do this for two or three days and then stop.  ‘Cause I really want to do this!

So, here is my challenge to myself and to anyone reading this: every day (or every week), do something outside of your comfort-zone.  Just one thing.  Just one thing that isn’t something you’d normally do.  I think this is such a great way to stretch one’s personality and character, so I really hope I can keep this up. 

Here’s how it’s going to work.  Every day after I do something gutsy, I’m going to post what I did on Tumblr.  Normally it should be just a paragraph or two.  A quick little this is what I did, aren’t you proud? thing.  I really really really! hope I can keep up with this.  I might have to do it every other day or every week… idk.  We’ll see! 

Wish me luck!!

“Do one thing a day that scares you.” 

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Especially my social life.  Was I awkward?  Did I annoy her?  Is that laugh a real or pitty laugh?  Honestly, I’m so caught up worrying about whether or not I’m an awkward person that it makes me either: a) quiet, or b) awkward.  Aren’t there more important things to worry about?  I’m really just being selfish, aren’t I?  All I can think about during my conversations is me, myself, and I.  ‘Act really excited here.’  ‘Give your best dissapointed look here.’  ‘Smile super friendly-like here.’  Everything.

Yet, - looking now at my family and all the people I’m truely comfortable with - when I’m myself, I seem to be enjoyed.  I enjoy myself and people enjoy me.  I can’t worry about what people might say about me behind my back (my chronic fear).  I have to BE the person God made me to be; the person behind all these over-exagerated smiles and emotions.  I have nothing to lose.  Sure, when you’re confident in yourself some people won’t like you, but you’ll make true friends.  No fake friends who only know the veneer you have over yourself.  You’ll attract people who like people like you!  And that’s all that truely matters. 

Every real person has enemies.  There are backstabbers and jerks in the world, but why focus on them when you can focus on those who love you?  Why worry only about people who might possibly not like your querks?  Everyone has querks.  Some people don’t mind certain querks, others hate them.  But you just have to find the people who like yours. 

Yeah, that’s right.