Today: (Comfort) Zone out.

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I probably live 97.2% of my life squarely in the Comfort Zone.  Outside of my professional duties, which require me to be pleasant and approachable, outgoing and normal, I am not a social risk taker.  I fear the unknown almost as much as I fear circus clowns.

A month or so ago, I saw a tweet from my gym about a soccer team in the works.  They were looking for new players.  In a rare moment of boldness and decisiveness, I responded right away.  Yes!  Count me in! And then… Yes! The dread set in!  What was I thinking?  I haven’t played soccer in over ten years.  Presumably my high school shin guards have expired, and I am not sure my 1999 cleats meet today’s standards of fashion or safety.  And, above all, I don’t know these people… and I am not sure I remember how to play.  How uncomfortable.

As the weeks passed, September 15th, the night of our first game, loomed ominously closer on my calendar.  Because that’s how the passage of time operates.  Yesterday morning I woke up, nerves (and hair) frazzled.  Was I really going to go through with this?

Apparently, yes.  The choice had been made.  The check to Boston Ski and Sports Club had been cashed.  There was only one thing left to do: buy equipment.  Well, that and actually show up and play.  I am pretty sure I gave the staff at City Sports a good laugh as I rolled in to their Chestnut Hill location, dressed up for a board meeting.  I scored a two pack of soccer socks (which, upon closer review at home, only contained one pair of socks…), shin guards and cleats.  I stopped short of buying a ball and a Soccer Pal for preservation’s sake.

I showed up to the field with Nick, my cheerleader in life, and sheepishly approached a group of girls.  “Is this the Healthworks team,” I asked?  One of my teammates responded with a high five, which I took to mean, “Yes.”

And instantly it was clear, as it usually is with these things, this was a risk worth taking– one I would have regretted passing up.  Speaking of passing, it would seem playing soccer is a lot like riding a bicycle.  I wasn’t half bad.  And it’s fun!  Look out, people, I might be dribbling out of my comfort zone more often.

Also On Tap for Today:

• Last race of the summer series! 4.2 mi along the Charles tonight 🙂
• Tasty lessons in a Learning Garden
• I don’t know what these are, but they’re cute

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Huh?