I've been sitting here thinking about moments in my life where I went outside my comfort zone and really surprised myself. There have only been a handful of them but they are important moments in my life.
The most recent was in November. My stepdaughter, Lisa, came to visit with her fiancé, his 15 year old brother and our 4 year old granddaughter. On the way home from the airport I teasingly asked if they'd like a surprise wedding. To our surprise they both said "yes".
We put that aside until a few days later when she was asking what they needed to do and a few phone calls and several trips later we had their marriage license. Then came picking the day. My husband's ex lives in another state and his ex father-in-law is an ordained minister and Lisa wanted him to perform the ceremony so the day had to be chosen that he and her mother could be here.
Now the date was picked and we had the place for the wedding, my sister-in-law's new home on 9 acres with a 1 acre lake in the front. Beautiful place and we were able to throw the wedding together in 4 days.
That's not the part about being out of my comfort zone. That came the day of the wedding when Lisa's mother arrived. I was nervous, here I was meeting the woman my husband use to be married to and being me I was afraid of what she'd think of me. The one thing in my favor was the meeting was taking place at my house. It was on my turf and I put on all smiles and welcomed her into my home.
I knew the day wasn't about me and how I felt, it wasn't about her and how she felt, it was about Lisa and her day. I also knew once her mother arrived I was going to be another guest at the wedding as this is a day that's to be shared by the bride's parents. Whether I like it or not the two of them are stuck in each other's lives forever due to having a daughter and granddaughter. Along with that means she's also in my life even though that's minimal. After all, we've been married 6 years and I've spoken to the woman once when she called and I answered the phone and again the day of the wedding.
I know there are going to be other occasions where we may have a chance to meet but now I feel empowered because I was forced out of my comfort zone into a situation that I was dreading and I came out unscarred and better for it for now I know I can do just about anything.
