It has been over a week since the trip. A few more contemplations emerged. When one goes on a vacation, it is customary to be excited, pack early, get prepared and foremost plan the upcoming adventures. I had none of that. Now do not get me wrong, I thoroughly wanted to go visit and meet everyone on the trip, but…..

I dragged my feet to pack till midnight, a few hours before the flight. Let us look at it from the return journey home, outside of the bubble of the vacation bubble. I was relieved to reach home to the usual chores of home life. The laundry, the home cooked meals, the cathartic ritual of unpacking to get into the groove of daily life. My list of unfinished books by the bed stand, my to do lists, the feel of driving in my car. It was a stark contrast to the few days of sightseeing and fun. The backdrop of volcanoes, the digesting of delicious foods of a simpler culture in an exotic lush far off habitat. The adventure was like I was being plucked out of my reality and plopped into an illusionary experience and now woken up back to home with a sudden jolt.

Why ? Why do we feel like that? The comfort zone. The place where we feel we have most control over. The tangible connection to the activities of daily living, no matter how mundane are still familiar. Anything that exists beyond this comes with slight apprehension and fear. This is normal. It is only when we refuse to leave that comfort zone that problems occur. It offers us nothing but lack of growth.

The exhaustion, late nights, lack of sleep and the weary nature of travel kept me in the fog between blending both realities. There are those who can adapt to all environments effortlessly. They do not require a shift in gear to assimilate between the comfort zone and outside spheres of influence. One comes to this level of adaptation by constantly pushing outside the comfort zone in all walks of life. This was my learning. To allow myself to experience life beyond my comfort zone. Make this space of safety smaller and live larger than life itself on a daily basis.

One way I can do this, and I offer this to you. Do something that scares you randomly and frequently. Push the envelope of where you think you cannot, to “ I can”. Break the limits. For me it is in the areas of study, learning, writing, endurance training and teaching to an ever increasingly diverse audience. I find the most uncomfortable I can be and do that, whether it is chatting with strangers on public transport or teaching about health and metaphysics to populous that I have never met. If ever the experience becomes too easy, change it up and shift up.

This is how we grow, nay evolve, and it all happens OUTSIDE the comfort zone. I am grateful for this impromptu trip, it is time to open my wings and fly.

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I love you