Being Uncomfortable

Submitted by teammate and Raise the Hope member Teresa Moffatt - she'll inspire you!!

Having just begun my road to becoming a triathlete, I started where most of us seem to need the most practice...in the pool. My first workout at the clinic was great, I felt I could really do this, we worked with kickboards, fins, and I felt very comfortable and good. Well subsequently each workout has increased to a level where most of the time, I feel very uncomfortable. You see in my life, I am somewhat accomplished, I am pretty good at what I do and I am one of the few 'answer people' in fairly large office of over 100. They ask questions or need help and I have answers, and good one's too! My personal life is very comfortable, on an even keel both financially and in my relationships...not perfect, but pretty darn comfortable!

Two weeks ago the workout took an especially scary turn - we were doing "50's hard" or something like that (I am still becoming familiar with all the pool jargon). Now, here I am in this pool gasping for air, my heart pounding, thinking "what the hell am I doing here"? Just then, Patty comes over and tells us that one of her early coaches told her "it is time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable" and something hit me - maybe not quite lightning bolt worthy, but pretty darn close. My whole life has been about being comfortable, being good at what I do and not pushing too far into that scary, unknown zone, called "uncomfortable". At that moment I decided NOT to do the math in my head when Patty called out some long distance, NOT to figure out that I had not gone that far yet and I might not make it, and NOT to think about how tired I might feel at the end...but just to start swimming!

So that is what I did, I started swimming until someone told me to stop (ok I had to take a few breathers in between), me, Comfortable Teresa has begun swimming into uncharted waters, frightening and very uncomfortable - but I hear once you get to the other side - it is sunny and warm :-)

Oh - and want to hear the best part, it is Tuesday morning and I had a very uncomfortable swim workout last night...and for the first time I want more! I am going to see if Patty has room in her Wednesday class for me to drop in and get an extra workout! So if you see me there huffing and puffing don't worry about me, I am just "getting comfortable with being uncomfortable." I am looking forward to standing on that sandy beach for my first triathlon, sun shining down, knowing that I am ready for this and all those rough seas were worth it!