Comfort Zone

View from my Airbnb - Shenandoah Valley, VA

I sat in my car trying to get out. After all, I had driven 5 hours for this. I felt frozen. I didn’t “really” know anyone. I just felt drawn to show up. Show up for myself. Show up for others.

I was attending a celebration of life for someone that I had met a few times but did not really know. While there was an open invitation to the public to attend, I could tell from the driver’s seat that I was probably the only person there who was not close friends or family. Finally, I gave myself enough of a pep talk to get out of the car, walk up the hill and step out of my comfort zone. It only took about a minute for someone to motion me over to have a seat next to them. “Are you family?” they asked. “No” I said. “My name is Amanda and I’m from North Carolina”. “This place has just meant a lot to me for years and I wanted to be here to celebrate the person who started it all”. “This place” was a farm that I have been visiting at least once a year for a while now. It’s one of the most beautiful, calming places I know. It heals my heart each time I go. I often cry when I have to leave.

I sat and chatted with the lady who motioned me over along with her husband. They were family. They had flown in from Arizona. We started talking about Arizona and how I’m visiting for my birthday this year. She gave me her e-mail and phone number to get in touch so they can give me recommendations and possibly visit while I’m there. I stayed for a few hours and was introduced to everyone as - “Amanda, who drove all the way up from North Carolina”.

I left feeling so glad I made the trip. Not only did I attend the celebration of life, I visited a place that I had just recently heard about on a podcast. The place was an energy healing center located about an hour from where I was staying in Virginia. I had been feeling stuck in life with several things lately and had been thinking about needing a healing session for myself. The week prior to my trip, I called the healing center and scheduled an appointment.

Healing Center - Keswick, VA

It’s been a little over a week now since the healing session and I have felt a shift. It’s subtle. Healing sessions can be very big with immediate revelations and changes both physically and emotionally but they can also take a little time to notice. My mind can no longer go to places that have been haunting me for most of my life. I’ll try to think about those places but it’s as if there’s something blocking it. A gentle block - not a wall - like what I usually put up to protect myself. This is different and feels more at ease instead of rigid. I’ll take it. I think I’m on my way to things staying different.

If I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone that week, I wouldn’t have shown up to celebrate someone’s life that has impacted mine. I wouldn’t have met people who could become friends. I wouldn’t have had a healing that has already changed me for the better. I wouldn’t have sat on the porch swing each morning sipping coffee and feeling like I was in the middle of a painting. I wouldn’t have - lived.

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. If there’s something that’s been tugging at you for a while now, give yourself the pep talk and get out of the driver’s seat.

View on the way to the farm - Heaven on Earth