Out of the zone…

“Always do something which makes you uncomfortable”. I started the new year with this priceless piece of advice and have been religiously trying to follow it ever since. Well…summoning up the will to work out in the mornings, trying to eat healthy and giving up Maggie noodles weren’t at all, all very comfortable choices….but I must be feeling very adventurous and rather obedient (fancy following unsolicited advice I heard at a random lecture!!) when I decided to join a dance class.

Things took a dramatic turn towards the outer edges of my comfort zone when I agreed to attend this dance socials thingy. The little voice in my head, meanwhile, was busy examining the list of things which makes me anxious and very uncomfortable, “Dancing? Check. Social interaction in a room full of strangers? Check. Dancing in a room full of strangers? Double check. Good , you will do just that!!!”

The full impact of the situation soon began to be felt, but backing out now would be cowardly and a coward I am not. I imagined myself stepping on people’s toes, banging into things, and probably spilling drinks, all the while looking like a very stiff robot. I was greeted with loud music, and people dancing. Dancing well. Really well. Brilliantly, in fact.

I didn’t have time to ponder how this could all go downhill as someone asked me as soon as I entered. Preparing for the worst, and  feeling very small and insignificant, I started to dance and…..pleasantly surprised myself. I wasn’t so bad!! Hey, I could have fun at this!!

Thankfully I didn’t step on anyone’s toes, and only narrowly missed banging into someone. I did spill some water, as usual!! But I didn’t care if anyone noticed at that point. I had finally made the trip out of the comfort zone quite successfully. I spent the rest of the time just going with the flow, having a great time and trying not to slip into “resting-bitch-face-mode!!!  I heartily congratulated myself on the ride back home for the successful trip to infinity and beyond and was just about to pat myself on the back for a job well done, when I suddenly noticed my reflection in the mirror. “Gasp!!! Have I been looking like this all evening?!! I look like a bloody raccoon…Hmph!!! That smudge-free kajal wasn’t so smudge-free after all!!”

It seems even my eye makeup was trying to push it’s predefined boundaries and explore a bit…..as it does quite often. Well somethings never change, but for everything else, you just got to surprise yourself a little everyday!!!