Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

"The young women will dance for joy, 

and the men- old and young- will join in the celebration."

Jeremiah 31:13 

This weekend was a weekend of love, joy, and celebration. One of my closest friends and the best roommate ever, Abby, got married! I had the pleasure of standing up with her as one of her bridesmaids. I couldn't have been more honored to help her celebrate in this way. I just wish I could have been around more last week during all of the pre-wedding festivities. 

I've only stood up in two weddings before- both of them for family members. One was my cousin when I was still in middle school and the other was my sister's wedding when I was in high school. Being able to be a bridesmaid for Abby- the first time I wasn't a bridesmaid for a relative- made the occasion even more special. Abby is the only roommate I had in college that I still talk to on a regular basis. I would even venture to say she's the only one of them that I am still truly friends with after living together. Maybe a character flaw of mine that I chased all of the others away? 

Seeing as this was the first non-relative wedding, it was exciting yet a little bit nerve-wracking. Let's be honest, standing on stairs in three-inch heels during the ceremony is harder than it sounds. And walking across a specific stair is nearly impossible without paying close attention to where your feet are landing, especially when the stair has sharp corners you have to consider. I won't admit that I almost fell down the stairs during one of the prayers due to losing my balance in my heels. Note: Closed eyes + high heels + stairs = BAD! Even though I like heels and I wear them often, there's just something about knowing you're in the spotlight that makes it so much more difficult to walk or stand in them. 

My real comfort zone issues have to do with the reception though, specifically the dance. 

I. DO. NOT. LIKE. TO. DANCE.   

Those of you who have known me for a while are probably baffled by that, thinking, "You were in show choir". For me, there's a big difference between show choir and dancing. I like to call it choreography. In show choir, there is a group of people doing the exact same thing. At dances, there is no choreography. You're free to do whatever you feel. 

I feel like standing like a lamp post.   

I don't know what it was about this dance, but I wasn't a lamp post last night. It may have been the live band and the fact that the singer was one of my friends. It may have been that even though I knew of a lot of the people at the wedding, I didn't actually know them. To be honest, I think I could say I know 4 people that were there (and that includes the bride). All of my other close friends that should have been there, unfortunately couldn't make it. 

Dancing is awkward. People are looking and I know I'm going to make a fool of myself. During one particular song, only one other person and I were on the dance floor. This is when I would normally leave and make a beeline for my chair. I didn't though. Instead, we looked at each other, turned away from everyone that was watching, and kept dancing. Not me at all.

And you know what? 

I'm still alive. I didn't die of embarrassment. No one laughed at me. AND...I had a blast. 

This wedding was the best wedding I have ever attended. Not because I liked the bride and groom any more than I did other brides and grooms (heck, I've never even had a conversation with this groom), but because of my attitude. I decided to put my fear of embarrassment and awkwardness aside and just have fun. I didn't care what people thought. I was having fun celebrating my close friend's wedding and that's all that mattered. It didn't matter if the cute guy on the other side of the dance floor thought I looked like an idiot. It didn't matter that I had absolutely no clue what I was actually doing. I was dancing in joy as Jeremiah 31:13 talks about. My joy from the fact that the sweetest, most caring, gracious, yet totally sarcastic (to me) woman was so full of love for her husband-to-be that you could see it on her face the entire day.

I can't tell you when, or even if, getting out of my comfort zone in this way will ever happen again, but I can tell you that I'm happy it happened. It was a great reminder that good results can come out of things I fear, don't enjoy, etc. I've heard it said several times that much of our growth happens when we're out of our comfort zone. Ironically, when I got out of my comfort zone at that dance, a part of me actually felt more comfortable. Almost like I was free from trying to appear like I have it all together. I know what I'm doing. I cared less what others thought of me in the moment. Maybe I will be able to carry this over into future situations so I can get out of my comfort zone more often.  

How can you get out of your comfort zone this week? 

Turtle, Tortuga, & Honu

While I was in Hawai'i, I made one post on a Friday about my pieces of happy that week. (I know, I've failed to post since then. Transitions from one event to another are time-consuming and the blog was the last thing on my mind for a little while.)

Anywho, one of my pieces of happy was about seeing turtles in their natural habitat. Here are just a few pictures of the turtles I found at Papanuu Beach, also known as the "Black Sand Beach". 

The turtles in this first picture were laying on eggs (or so said the sign in front of them). My family is pretty sure that the turtle in the second picture was actually stuck in between the rocks near shore. 

The turtles were so peaceful. They just laid there, hardly moving. Some, I'm pretty sure didn't move at all. I saw a few lift up their heads and look around, but the others just relaxed on the sand. 

So, I seem to have this obsession with turtles. I even disturbed one of the turtles to take a picture with it. Sounds like something I would do. I had to be careful though because I was told that turtle could move quickly if it felt threatened. 

I know, you're all waiting to hear about the significance of the turtle. 

To understand though, we have to go back in time...to sixth grade. For some that wasn't long ago. For me, that was 13 years ago. 

In sixth grade, I transferred to a new school, the school my mom worked at as a sixth grade teacher. I was placed on her team, which meant she was my teacher. Not important though.

 One of her co-workers was a guy named Jason Hirschbach. Mr. H, as he was often called, was a short man. Most of the sixth grade students were as tall as him. He liked to joke around...A LOT! Most of the memories I have from him in sixth grade have to do with him telling ridiculously stupid jokes, singing silly songs about one-legged chickens or babies wee-weeing (yes, you read that correctly), and playing hundreds of games of Mancala after finishing homework in Social Studies.

Throughout my middle school years, I spent a significant amount of time in his room after school waiting for my mom to go home for the night. This allowed us a lot of time to talk and build a relationship beyond a teacher/student. We became friends. 

In eighth grade, I became friends with two girls who had been on my team in sixth grade, but didn't know well during sixth grade. Hanging out with them, I found out they called Mr H. "Turtle". It stuck and I started to call him that too. Until I discovered that the Spanish word for turtle was "Tortuga". I had my new nickname for him! One only I used. 

Throughout high school, I had a lot of fun with his new nickname. A man who didn't grow up with technology, I often changed Tortuga's screensaver on his school computer to say something about "Tortuga". His co-workers always played dumb like they didn't know how to change it and it would stay like that until I came back and changed it...usually to something else about "Tortuga". His students loved finding messages I left at night. 

One of many letters I received over the years.

Sometime over these years, he decided I needed a nickname as well. I became "Fishy" since I was an avid swimmer when I met him. I'm not sure we used each other's names often at all. 

Moving to college, I obviously wasn't around as often as I had been in high school. Tortuga didn't let that stop him though. He got my school address from my mom and I would receive letters and "fish food" (money) typically once a month. The fish food was a secret between the two of us so I trust you will keep our secret. :) 

Unfortunately, Tortuga was diagnosed with cancer while I was in college. He fought it strong and hard for many years, but once it came back, there was no stopping it. Tortuga passed away on Christmas Eve in 2010. Christmas morning was pretty rough that year. 

Tortuga was an inspiration to me. He was almost like a second dad. He took me under his wing, made sure I was getting taken care of (and even spoiled), and always had words of encouragement that usually came at times when I was doubting myself. It was like he knew without even having to talk to me.     

Since Tortuga's passing, turtles have become a bit of an obsession. I learned in Hawai'i that turtles, "Honu" in Hawaiian, represent protection and longevity. That seems so fitting for my relationship with Tortuga. I have slowly been collecting turtle items and every time I see a turtle, I am reminded of a man who went above and beyond his call as a teacher and invested time building a relationship with a girl who appreciated the support, advice, and friendship over several years. 

In the coming years, I look forward to proudly telling students I encounter about the teacher who invested time in me when it wasn't required of him and how much of an impact that had on my life. I will also proudly display turtles in remembrance of Tortuga. I recently purchased this necklace in Hawai'i and can't wait to wear it!

In closing, since I know I've written a book, I'd like to share a quote Tortuga used to say constantly. 

"NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A SMILE"

Who has been an inspiration in your life? 

  

  

Pieces of Happy~ Week One

First of all, I'd like to apologize to my readers for my absence. Things got a bit hectic and every time I thought I was going to have time to sit down and write a blog, something else would pop up. A lot had to do with packing for two different trips at the same time. Not something I would recommend for anyone. 

Anyways... 

When I first decided to start blogging, I had been reading a blog one of my high school friends has started. I've really enjoyed her blog. Every Friday, she does "Pieces of Happy", things during the week that made her week a happy one. I love this idea. She asks people to join in, so here I am. I'm joining in on the fun! If you want to check out her blog it is, http://www.thechasinghappyblog.com/2013/05/pieces-of-happy-week-8.html. 

My Pieces of Happy

1. Hawai'i. This has been three years in the making.

2. Safety during travels. There were no issues with planes, luggage, flights, etc.  

3. Green sea turtles. Look for a future blog about the significance behind this.

4. Swimming in the ocean. I'm from the Midwest. This has to make me happy. 

5. Ziplining over beautiful waterfalls. My mom (who is afraid of heights) even participated.  

6. Bubba Gumps. Delicious. Oceanfront view. Perfection. 

7. Hibiscus. Such a beautiful flower. 

8. Smoothies. The warm weather makes these essential. 

9. Dresses. I don't have much of an excuse to wear dresses during the summer, but I love them. Hawai'i is the perfect excuse.  

10. Photography. Hawai'i's very scenic. I've taken almost 800 pictures in the 4 days I've been here.

I could think of so many more, but, frankly, I'm tired and ready to go to bed. Another adventure awaits in the morning. I hope you all caught onto the theme of this week's pieces of happy. They may not always have a theme, but there is no getting around it at the current moment.

I can't wait to share more with you about the adventures I have had and will have in the next week. 

What were your pieces of happy this week?