It’s 10:18 p.m. Have you moved outside your comfort zone today?

Four years ago, after I had lost myself in the demands of motherhood and was feeling like my days resembled those of a hamster on a hamster wheel, I made a resolution to try something new every year.

That first year, while I was five months pregnant with Number 6, I went to school to get my realtor’s license. I thought it might be something I could do around the schedules of the kids.

I was scared shitless. I hadn’t been in any kind of classroom in twenty years. I didn’t know if I’d really even know how to study.

I ended up getting the highest grade in the class.

I also ended up kind of sucking at the realtor thing. Probably because I didn’t like doing it at all.

But at least I had gone for it. And I had proven something to myself. I definitely knew how to study.

After Number 7 was born, I decided I’d enter a triathlon. Again, I was petrified.

But I did it. And I did pretty well. And I really liked it. Moving outside my comfort zone and trying something new had resulted in a new hobby.

Something just for me.

Something that got me off of that hamster wheel.

The next year, I decided I’d try a marathon.

That really scared the crap out of me, but in November of 2013, I crossed the finish line of the NYC Marathon. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life.

And it never would have happened had I stayed comfortable.

Then this past year, I decided to run two marathons.

Two weeks apart from each other.

This one really had me just about pooping in my pants.

But I did it. The first marathon was awful. I was cursing myself for the last two hours.

I have honestly never, ever  been so physically uncomfortable in my entire life.

Not during childbirth.

Nothing.

It blew. Big time.

But I did it. And the next day, after I had recovered, I kind of felt invincible.

The second marathon two weeks later was another one of the best experiences of my life. And I will share a special bond with a friend forever because of it.

All because I opted for discomfort.

Great things came from that.

So this year, I am trying to make a conscious effort to do something outside of my comfort zone, no matter how small, every single day.

I kind of started this about a week ago.

There is a hot yoga place here in town — Manipura Power Yoga — that I have been wanting to go to for a long time. But I haven’t. For two reasons.

One, I don’t have the money to join it.

And two, I suck at yoga. I’m still pretty new at it, so I don’t know all the vocabulary. I am nowhere near able to even touch my toes. I don’t have the cute outfits or the rock hard body or the pretty yoga mat or any of the stuff that I assumed every other person in that studio would have.

But I do know that my mind and body always feel amazing after I walk out of any kind of yoga class.

So last week I moved out of my comfort zone. Most yoga studios have an introductory special where you can get unlimited classes for two weeks for $25.

I got one of those.

And then, knowing that I was going to have to approach the owner and see if I could strike a deal with him, I went to as many classes as I could that first week. I wanted him to know that I was committed. And serious.

I made it to five classes.

(And in none of those classes did every single person have a shredded yoga body and the perfect yoga outfit. So I did all that worrying for nothing).

After that fifth class, the owner was sitting at the front desk.

He’s not always there, so I knew this was an opportunity.

I knew I should go talk to him. But I really didn’t want to.

Because believe it or not, while I am pretty outgoing and very outspoken, I hate trying to sell myself.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING makes me more uncomfortable than sales.

I fucking hate it.

But pitching myself and the blog was the only way I was going to be able to keep coming to this studio.

So I sucked it up, and I went waaaaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone.

I waited for all the other students who had taken the class to leave, and then I went for it.

I told the owner about the blog and about how many people locally read it and about how I am fitness conscious and how I have a million kids and how I have recently fallen in love with yoga and how it helps to keep me from going fucking crazy and how I could give his studio lots of exposure.

His eyes had kind of glazed over upon hearing the word blog. But I didn’t give up.

The instructor who had taught the class was actually a blog reader.

The owner said to her, “This woman is trying to get free yoga. Is she a friend of yours?”

He thought I was trying to pull a fast one.

I didn’t give up. I persisted. And finally, in exchange for some advertising and other promotions through the blog and occasional volunteering at the studio, he agreed to give me a free membership.

I couldn’t believe it.

Thank God I didn’t just walk straight out after the class ended.

Thank God I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

Of course, now I had to deliver.

Yesterday I issued myself a little challenge.

30 days of yoga.

30 consecutive days.

I was going to start this morning at 6:30. It would be the only class I could get to today.

Of course, I slept right through the four alarms I had set.

My husband woke me up at 6:10.

“Are you still going to yoga?” he asked.

Shit.

I thought about bagging it.

Move out of your comfort zone.

I threw some clothes on and pretty much ran out the door.

When I got to the parking lot, I didn’t see any other cars.

Should I go in? What if I’m the only one?

I literally got out of my car, walked to the back, turned around, got back in my car, and was about to drive back home when I reminded myself.

Move out of your comfort zone.

I got out of the car and went inside.

I was not the only person there.

Again, worrying for no reason.

I was a couple minutes late and class had already started.

The owner was teaching the class. I settled onto my mat and enjoyed every second of that hour. Even the seconds where I was uncomfortable.

When class ended and everyone was getting their coats and shoes on, the owner said to me,

“You really are connected. There are a lot of people who go here who read your blog.”

“I told you, ” I said to him. “I wasn’t just blowing smoke up your ass.”

And then he said, “There are also a lot of people who don’t go here who read your blog. I’ve tried advertising a couple different ways, but they were kind of a joke.

But your blog is good stuff.”

Yes.

I had delivered.

All because I took a chance, and stepped into discomfort.

Good things happen outside that comfort zone.

And it’s only January 2nd.

This is going to be a good fucking year.

Thank you for making me Number 1!

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