Recently, a friend of mine asked if I’d be willing to pose for a portrait with my mom and daughter.
Anne, a professional photographer in Hampton, had taken photos of my family before, including photos of my son when he was just 9 days old. She does a fantastic job. Still, I’ve never been particularly comfortable with having my photo taken.
Going outside one’s comfort zone is usually never easy. The thing is, doing so often has amazing results and ends up helping us grow as human beings. It might be experiencing something new, learning a new hobby or just pushing yourself to do something you’re not crazy about. Challenging yourself, and stepping outside the familiar, helps you dip into that untapped store of knowledge and resources deep inside you. You might never know what you’re made of until you step off into the unknown.
In this month’s issue of the Health Journal, you’ll read about several people who went outside their comfort zone. John-Michael Jalonen, one of our writers, decided last month to try the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Virginia in order to write about it. So he and a few friends ran into the icy cold Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach — something they certainly have never done or even thought about before — and had a blast.
Then there’s Maddie Weiler. Last year, the 13-year-old Williamsburg girl sprang into action when a man jumped behind the wheel of her mom’s car and tried to drive off with Maddie and her little sister inside. Maddie fought back furiously, and won. You’ll read about this brave girl’s actions, which she pulled from down deep inside.
It’s never too late to develop a spirit of adventure! Why not take that trip, or go to that concert? Take a visit to the beach in the winter for a different perspective. Learn to play an instrument. Run a 5K. March in a protest for a cause you believe in. Expose yourself to the arts — if you need an idea, check out “Bernstein at 100” at the Ferguson Center or Chrysler Hall this month (see our preview story on page 24). And keep an eye out for our new arts & leisure section in the magazine each month for more ideas.
As for me, I did go and get that photograph taken with my mom and daughter. If you look closely, sure, you can see the wrinkles and eye bags — the things I’m uncomfortable showing the world, but you know what? Who cares? I went outside my comfort zone, and what resulted is a beautiful three-generation photograph that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.