Life is a lot like sitting in an airport coffee shop sipping a latté watching planes take off. Each departure is an unrealized adventure an experience that could turn our universe upside down and make us grow.
Unfortunately though potential experiences for growth in our lives aren’t as clearly defined as the departure list on an airport screen. They come more subtlety often hidden behind a veil.
And we ignore what’s beyond that veil on a daily basis. From the most mundane desire to go on a hike in the canyon to a grand backpacking excursion around India we tell ourselves that something stands in our way: homework money lack of experience laziness.
We retreat back into our bubbles and float on by with our same old friends following our paths of least resistance.
We must realize that coursework can be a feat of discovery empty pockets inspire creativity and naiveté makes you a splendid tabula rasa.
Now you probably have a social group you feel most comfortable with. You probably have similar interests have regular topics of discussion look a lot like each other and maybe even have a few stereotypes associated with you.
We all know the stereotypes but while stereotypes are a problem they aren’t quite the heart of the issue. People only stereotype groups because their members look so gosh darn similar. Granted there’s a lot of pressure on people to conform but the fact that so many do is problematic. Perhaps people aren’t comfortable in their own skins. They must reinforce their identity by associating with like-minded similarly clothed comparably attractive people.
If this describes you — be honest — it would behoove you to branch out. All this is to say people are trending toward a sort of neo-tribalism. Tools like the Internet enhance modern man’s ability to associate only with those he feels mirror his interests. For example “World of Warcraft” guild members across continents can spend all their waking hours together socializing online divorced from the people actually around them. This can’t be healthy.
So are you comfortable? Then you’re not growing.
A few weeks ago Jeanne Stevens spoke at Chapel. Her message was all about breaking out of your spiritual comfort zone taking risks and having faith God will be with you.
Condoleezza Rice came and spoke to us last week about how she grew up in segregated Birmingham but went on to become classically trained in piano before changing her major as a second-semester junior to international relations. There’s a woman who doesn’t know the meaning of comfort zone. If Condi teaches us anything it’s that the best things in life require hard work. She didn’t become secretary of state by staying in Alabama and only hanging out with people who set her at ease.
So do not fear popping your bubble. Rather get wet from the splash. Air-dry during your adventure because the hardest things for you personally are the best ones for you. A helpful analogy is the process of muscle growth. Exercising tears up the fibers of your muscles but then they grow back together stronger than ever. So accept the challenge of exercising your individuality. Grin widely as you nod your cordial “good-bye” to your comfort zone. Comfort may contort its face whine and moan that you cannot leave it but you must.
Man however must not leave the mainland and become an island. We’re not trying to convince you to ditch your friends. In fact your group of friends will grow stronger as you embrace your individuality. Sharing your passions with the people who share your values colors their world with your unique interests.
Thus by breaking out of your bubble you broaden 10 people’s horizons rather than solely your own. It sets off a chain reaction. You tell your friend about the Hispanic open-air market you discovered yesterday in Downtown Los Angeles and it inspires her to tag along next time. Your friend tells you all about her Jumpstart volunteering experiences this week and it inspires you to volunteer too.
If other people can actually inspire us but we don’t reach out to them at the end of the day we are our own worst enemies. Our impulses are stymied as those bittersweet mental roadblocks coo us into complacency.
There are truly no obstacles to achieving our desires. For example say you want to explore but you have no car. This does not mean you’re without transport. Drag your friend with that shiny Jetta into your adventure and see where your curious spirits lead you. If a car truly does evade your grasp allow your curiosity to peruse the vast expanse of the Internet and explore the public transportation system or other unfamiliar realms. Make sure to leave wiggle room for the unexpected twists that veer you off the main road. (Random Wikipedia articles and Stumbleupon are great springboards.)
Now as you embrace yourself as an individual take the time to become your own best friend. Carve out alone time to discover the direction already before you. Allow others to guide you but lead yourself.
The more options you believe your life has the more likely you are to make a choice that resonates with your own individuality.
So explore your options. Put down that latté pick up your backpack say goodbye to your friends — but just for now — and hop on a flight to somewhere unexpected.