Getting Uncomfortable

Just when I think spring is finally here, winter gives one last icy gasp.  We went bed last night in shorts and t-shirts.  We woke up this morning to yet another winter wonderland and I spent about an hour starting a fire so we could stop shivering.  Fortunately it melted of very quickly and perhaps this will be the last of the year.

I'm excited because today my daughter is coming home from a week long school trip.  I have missed her!!  And I don't want anything to stand in the way of her homecoming, especially not icy roads.  I'm proud of her for taking this step, she's not the type to be away from home--I never was either--but we can't let our anxieties become excuses which then become limitations and eventually prisons.

Everyone has anxiety, did you know that?  For the most part it's perfectly normal.  The very best thing you can do is not let your fears stop you from doing.....anything.  Much like my girl, I hated being away from home.  I stopped sleeping at friends' houses by the age of 12 and stopped inviting friends over shortly after that.  I announced this to my friends with a brief speech that went something like:  I regret to inform you all that I will no longer be having or attending sleepovers. I spend roughly 35 hours a week with all of you at school and the weekends are my time.  That is all.  They didn't take it well.

Eliminating this thing that made me so anxious, so uncomfortable, it felt right--at first.  But as I grew, I realized that as much as I didn't like being away from home, I desperately wanted to travel and see everything this world had in it.  I had to give something up: either my dream of traveling of my anxiety about being away from home, and also flying, getting lost, etc.  I chose my dream over my anxieties.  It was a big step and the first of many that led me out of the prison of living in fear and into a world of possibilities.

I won't say all of my fears were unfounded, I've had my fair share of troubles along the road, things that might make a person fearful of ever getting out there again.  But troubles will find you no matter how "safe" you think you're playing it, and none of my mishaps outweigh the adventures I've had and I wouldn't trade a second of it for a more "comfortable" life. 

My daughter is growing up too, she has dreams of her own and none of them involve staying home.  She took a pretty big step this week.  It wasn't easy for her, important things never are, in fact it was down right uncomfortable getting out there, but I know she will come back from this with more confidence in herself and her abilities and this step will lead to another and another and each one will bring her closer to her dreams and the kind of life she wants to live.

What about you, dear reader, what are you waiting for?  Is there something in your life that you'd like to do but your fears are holding you back?  Take a step in that direction, no matter how small a step it is, no matter how anxious and uncomfortable it makes you.  Then another and another until your fears are behind you and your dreams are within reach.