Thanks to being sheltered for most of my life by my mom and my attachment to her due to the path life put us on, this trip in general was a big step out of my comfort zone. Throughout my whole life it has always been my mom and I, we are and always will be a team. I had a routine and I liked it.
Coming here pushed me the farthest out of my comfort zone than anything had before. I imagined myself shutting down and retreating like I had done in the past. While that did happen some days, where it was hard for me to escape thoughts and get out of my head, I found myself being more open than I had expected. I opened myself up and told people things that I held inside for awhile. And while that is scary to me, it something that I need to do to further improve my life and be happy. Yes, some days were harder than others but I still remained here in Costa Rica living in the moment rather than retreating and closing myself off.
This trip has made me realize that I need to explore, live my own life, travel, leave my comfort zone, and try new things that I never would have before. Before this trip, I was so stuck in my ways of who I was, who I hung out with, and what I wanted to do with my time. Now, I see myself expanding my horizon and looking outward, outside of my little box that I put myself in at home.
I also see that my desire to do that doesn’t take away from what I have at home, but instead make those bonds stronger, for the ones that are still there when I return are the ones worth having.
Lastly, I want to take something back that I said to Christy during when I was first facing the challenges of working on the volunteer project on the beach at Tortuguero. I said, “I guess I’m not as strong as I thought I was.” I am strong. Those moments that are challenging are okay because they allow you to reflect and build yourself back up. I feel stronger now than I have ever, and I thoroughly plan on taking my newfound strength (which was always there, it was just waiting to break free) home with me.
Standing on the edge of the cliff, at the edge of my comfort zone, was scary and intimidating as it would be in any situation where one is taking a leap of faith into the unknown. But it’s that push, that endless fall off that cliff, that provides excitement and something to be remembered.
It’s on that journey outside the comfort zone that one truly discovers what they are made of and what they can achieve.
Vanessa Greaves
0
