Many people view their comfort zone as a wonderful and cozy place where life is easy, familiar, and totally risk-free. While this may sound like an ideal environment, it’s impossible to grow as a person if you stay inside your comfort zone because there are no opportunities to try new things, make mistakes, experience failure, and learn from those experiences. If you expect to grow, you must step outside your comfort zone. Only there can you try new things, face new challenges and make new friends. Yes, you will experience some stress and anxiety, but you will become a more confident, capable, interesting, and resilient person. You will also add a dimension of fun and excitement to your life.
Far too many people worry about what other people think of them. Instead of living their life on their own terms doing things that bring them joy and happiness, their primary motivation is to impress others. This determines the kind of car they drive, the clothes they wear, the neighborhood they live in and so forth. Some people have even chosen a career based on other people’s expectations only to wind up being miserable in their job. As ancient Chinese Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu put it, “Care about what other people think, and you will always be their prisoner.” Life as a prisoner cannot make us happy, it only brings us feelings of inadequacy and disappointment. So, listen to your inner voice. Do what makes you happy and forget about what others think.
An article by Chelsea Bailey, which was posted on bbc.com, featured Hody Childress, a life-long resident of the small rural community of Geraldine, Alabama. Mr. Childress was known as a humble man, “who would often send handwritten get-well cards and share vegetables from his garden with neighbors.” One day, when he was in the town drugstore, he asked Brook Walker, the pharmacist, if she ever had anyone who couldn’t afford their medication. She told him that it happened quite a bit. Then Mr. Childress handed her a folded $100 bill and said, “Next time that happens, will you use this? Don’t tell where it came from, and don’t tell me who needed it, just say it’s a blessing from the Lord.” Ms. Walker thought this would be a one-time kindness, but, “It continued every single month for almost 10 years (until Mr. Childress died),” she said. “I never saw it lasting this long and he always said, ‘Keep this between us.’”
The legacy continues. After Mr. Childress passed away, the story about his altruism somehow got out and was reported in the Washington Post. Ms. Walker immediately began receiving calls from across the US from people wanting to help keep the fund going. Mr. Childress set a wonderful example that others wanted to follow—people really do care!
“A legal group is planning to file bar complaints against four lawyers representing failed Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake in her baseless voter fraud litigation.” 1
For those that may seem disparaged by the “Christian” White Nationalists and the Republican Party, please find a little solace in the song by Elton John and Rina Sawayama.
Lyrics: Where do I belong? Tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine I’m all ears, take your time, we got all night Show me the rivers crossed, the mountains scaled Show me who made you walk all the way here
Settle down, put your bags down (Ooh) You’re alright now
We don’t need to be related to relate We don’t need to share genes or a surname You are You are My chosen Chosen family So what if we don’t look the same? We been going through the same thing You are You are My chosen Chosen family
Hand me a pen and I’ll rewrite the pain When you’re ready, we’ll turn the page together Open a bottle, it’s time we celebrate Who you were, who you are We’re one and the same, yeah, yeah
We don’t need to be related to relate We don’t need to share genes or a surname You are You are My chosen Chosen family So what if we don’t look the same? We been going through the same thing You are You are My chosen Chosen family
I, I chose you You chose me I chose (Chosen family) I chose you You chose me We’re alright now
We don’t need to be related to relate We don’t need to share genes or a surname You are You are My chosen Chosen family So what if we don’t look the same? We been going through the same thing You are You are My chosen Chosen family
We don’t need to be related to relate We don’t need to share genes or a surname You are You are My chosen Chosen family So what if we don’t look the same? We been going through the same thing You are You are My chosen Chosen family
