Comfort in the Unknown

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” ~ Unknown

Years ago, if you suggested I try something new, I would have looked at you like you were crazy and laughed you off.  I love the comfort of the known, the familiar surrounding my shoulders like a snugly blanket.  And then I had a major change in my life.  I realized that my future would never be as I had imagined it.  In fact, it was a completely blank slate.  Totally unknown.  Almost everything I had dreamed and planned for suddenly vanished.  It could have been scary.  It should have been upsetting.  But instead, I felt inspired.  I had a totally blank canvas.  I could draw whatever I wanted.  I could move towards creating a life that was so big it lived outside of my wildest dreams.  And so, I did.  I left the comfort zone of the known and stepped into the unknown.  Imagine a beautiful, worn, weathered wooden boardwalk, but instead of it stretching out in front of me, I'm standing on the edge of the board, carrying the next plank in my hand.  I have the hammer and the nails and I have solid foundation to stand on, amazing family and friends supporting me every step of the way.  But there everything in front of me is to be determined.  Maybe I'll pick up some paint along the way to add some color to my boardwalk.  Maybe I'll skip ahead a few steps.  I'm sure I'll have a few broken boards to deal with.  But, instead of being afraid of the unknown, I confidently move towards it.