Why Live in a Comfort Zone?

I have spoken before about how far out of my comfort zone I was when I started riding. Never in a million years did I think that I would ever be comfortable heading out on a 100 or 135 mile ride, or that I would ever be able to go down the road on even a 25 mile ride by myself. Those 100 and yes, even the 135 mile rides  now seem like they are my comfort zone. And riding by myself on the road, well, maybe doing 30 or 40 miles by myself is okay, but anything more than that and I crave some company. Not that I couldn't do it, only that it would be better to be doing it with someone other than my 'bad self'.

When I began, even friends and family responded in a negative way. My best friend actually said it out loud, "You can't do that!".   We both found out that I could. Several responded with  "why would you want to do that?" Did they mean why would I want to raise money to help people, or why would I want to ride my bike 100 miles? I wasn't sure, so my response was, "I can't believe you don't want to do it", or an even slightly more passive aggressive response, "why wouldn't I want to do this, why wouldn't I want to help people while learning bike skills and improving my fitness?" I love answering a question with a question.

Five years later, I still do my charity rides, I still raise money. The fundraising is a bit harder, because year after year I am going back to the same people with my hand out, but it is still doable. The riding is easier because my body is used to it, and I am still as stubborn as ever, and I have a new awesome bike. What once was leaps and bounds outside of my comfort zone,  is now my comfort zone.

Currently,  the opportunity has arisen for me to step out of that comfort zone once again. I saw a  note on the bulletin board at work regarding the group MATH (Medical Aid to Haiti), they needed a medical technologist to accompany them on the February mission trip. I responded. After some back and forth chatter, I was accepted to go on the trip. On Feb 21 I will be leaving JFK for a trip to Port Au Prince, Haiti, to work for a week in a small lab, assist, teach, and share experience. This is a giant step, no, scratch that, two or three giant steps outside of my comfort zone.

My immediate supervisor was on board. My manager was on board. The response I got from our COO astounded me and took me right back to the way friends and family reacted the first time I told them I was going to ride my bike 100 miles and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  "Ew, why would you want to go there?" was her comment. My immediate response, was the one I always fell back on, and in my passive aggressive way of answering a question with a question, I came out with it.... "why wouldn't I want to go there, why wouldn't I want to go and help people that are in need of my education and experience, (my many, many years or experience)"?  I almost threw in the "I can't believe  you don't want to go help too", but figured I needed to keep my job and I kept my mouth shut.

As the date gets closer, I have had the shots needed, gotten the anti-malarial drug to take, got the anti-diarrhea kit, bug spray, sunscreen, and am collecting some medical supplies to take along, and hoping to get my lab to donate a microscope which is needed so desperately by the lab in Haiti, I have pushed to the back burner how far outside of my comfort zone this really is. I sleep in a warm bed, eat 3 squares a day, don't worry about my tap water, and luxuries of all luxuries, I have an indoor bathroom and shower with hot water. Being unsure of what to expect of our accommodations in Haiti I asked. We do have a bathroom in the mission house, flush sparingly. We do have a shower, cold water only. We will have bottled water, beer, soda and wine available. Brush your teeth with bottled water, and stand with your back to the shower head.. ie don't let the water run in your face. The food prepared for us is (should be) safe to eat. And we will have armed guards for transport to and from the clinic area.  I can do this for a week.

Stock photos of  Port Au Prince

Writing this all down, I am again, examining why I want to do this, maybe I need to be able to come up with a better answer than, 'why wouldn't I'.  The plain and simple answer is, because I can. Because I can help someone who needs it. Perhaps not financially, but in experience. I know it will be life changing for me, but that is not the reason for going. I already  have a great appreciation for how truly blessed I have been in this life, and how much I already have. I am very, very grateful every single day for the gifts of health, my family, basic necessities.  I don't need to see people suffering to remember that gratitude.  It is not about me winning any prize, or getting 'attta girl', pats on the back, or anything like that, I get enough of those from family, friends, and co-workers, and even  myself! It is just about helping. Extending a hand, to help someone else. Plain and simple. Doing something that money can't buy. Teaching, sharing, seeing how people who have so little still go forward, holding their heads high, and living proudly. I know I could have spent the same amount of money out of my limited discretionary income to go someplace nice and enjoy myself, but my life isn't always about me. It is about giving. It is about what I can give.  And we all know what they say about giving... "For it is in giving, that we receive".

The colors of their world

For now, my blog might be more about Haiti than my bike. I hope you don't mind. I hope to get some pictures (although they are a proud people and the last thing I want to do is exploit their poverty, or have it appear that I am). I hope, after my return, that I find what I actually think is outside of my comfort zone, really is my comfort zone.

Yes, my husband really thinks I am going to Tahiti. :)
Peace and Tailwinds,
Karen