I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone lately.

I really like my comfort zone, ya know?!.

But I know growth makes me happier. So, I’ve been doing things that make me feel vulnerable so that I’ll have to deal with that fragile feeling and hopefully become more willing to try new things.

It’s a process, right?

Recently I went out to lunch at Chicken Salad Chick by myself. I’ve learned to eat by myself in public, actually, I don’t mind at all anymore. I decided I wanted to eat outside because the weather was glorious. As I ordered my food I asked the guy behind the register if I could, or if someone could, open the umbrella on the patio furniture in their outdoor seating area. He said I could, so I gathered my number card and my purse and headed outside. There were only two tables with umbrellas and one was occupied. I made my way to the other and proceeded to TRY and open it.

I wish you could have been there.

I buried my head inside the gathered material looking for the pole I knew would have the ring that I could slide upward thus opening the expansive sheet of fabric. I eventually pushed back enough fabric to find the pole and then tried to push the ring up.

No dice.

Nada.

It wasn’t moving.

At this point the other table noticed all the commotion; maybe it was my ruffled hair from the yards of unruly fabric that gave it away or maybe the soft grunting from trying to push the dang ring up to no avail. Finally, I made eye contact with one of the young men sitting at the other table and before I could get the question out, “would you mind helping me?” he was up and on the way over.

To many of you this is no big deal, you wouldn’t think twice about asking a stranger for help, but I struggle. I don’t mind AT ALL being asked, but I feel so embarrassed to be the one asking. I don’t know why really, I guess I don’t want to be a bother. But, since I’ve been working on stepping out of my comfort zone, I knew I NEEDED to ask.

This young man wrestled with the umbrella using napkins and straws trying to get it propped up. You see, it was missing the dowel that you slide in under the ring, through the pole, to hold the umbrella up. So, he improvised. Apparently, he’d done the same thing at his table. Finally, a second young man came over with some folded paper, folded really small shaped like a dowel, and used that to prop up the umbrella

Success!

I have to admit I was a bit daunted to sit under it at first, I mean, what if the paper didn’t hold and it closed with me inside??

I might never be seen again. Ha!

But, I decided to take the chance and, to my delight, I enjoyed a wonderful lunch.

While the guys were working on the problem, I kept thinking they needed to get done with me because they were probably on their lunch break. Or maybe they didn’t know helping me would take so long and were secretly frustrated. I held my ground though, instead of telling them not to worry about it, I’d just sit inside, I let them finish what they’d started.

They were SO KIND.

I thanked them profusely when they’d finished, I think they were probably about the age of my sons. I was so grateful even if a bit embarrassed at the ordeal. When I sat down to eat I processed my emotions and tried my best to sort through why I felt the way I did and then it hit me, it was basically a pleasant experience. They didn’t seem bothered at all and turns out I left before they did, so they obviously weren’t limited on time.

I was wrong on all accounts.

I’m glad I didn’t listen to my mind but instead followed my determination to overcome all these negative ideas about asking for help.

Turns out people really are kind and want to help when asked.

I’m going to keep pushing myself each day, just a little, to overcome some of my insecurities and fears. Life’s victories are a process and I want to look back one day and feel like I did my best with what I had.

A little at a time.

That’s my mantra right now, one small step at a time…

Little by little.

Me and my wonderful husband