International Women’s Day

Why do something that scares you?

I asked myself that question many a times before I decided to challenge myself to face 100 fears in 100 days.

Comforts. Familiarity. Ease. Affluence. Contentment. These are reasons to stay within your limits; reasons to protect yourself; reasons to confine yourself to what you know.

Eleanor Roosevelt boldly stepped forward and I just happened to jump on her coattails to experience something amazing.

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

One thing I’ve garnered over the last few months is the knowledge of how powerful it is to face your fears; to step out of your comfort zone and experience something new, (although most often terrifying) it is empowering and dynamic.

It is so easy to surprise yourself when you’re willing to step out of your safe place and face those fears that are so easy to avoid.

Step up and out, and follow the powerful words of an inspiring woman, Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

Rules are dumb but have their place

One week until the challenge commences. I guess I can check day one off because I’m scared to death about this shit idea I came up with for the following reasons: rats, being completely transparent, actually completing something I start, and above all perhaps finding something out about myself that would’ve been more comfortable left in the deep dark depths of a place I call denial.

Thought quite a bit about attaching rules or at the very least some stipulations to this 100 day event, but thought rules and stipulations are lame and will only put limitations on something that is supposed to be encouraging the exact opposite. So, in short, rules suck and have no place here.

I decided yesterday I am going on a road trip. Conveniently my running buddy said he would like to do the same. So we leave Sunday. Good way to start this challenge I think.

Destination: unknown. Length: undecided (will most likely depend on how my travel partner and I get along… or don’t). Purpose: to make bad decisions and meet some cool folk along the way. Oh, and do stuff that scares me every day as well.

We’ve compiled a bit of a list and some rules. I know I said I wasn’t going to make any rules for my 100 day challenge, but for a road trip, we thought it necessary to incorporate a few rules.

1. no being a pussy
2. no asking of directions or use of a GPS
3. no phones
4. no more than 6 hrs of sleep a night
5. no “I’m too tired” bs
6. no farting in the car

Suggestions welcome!

Good God I hope this Eleanor Roosevelt chick is onto something when she says to do one thing every day that scares you. Nonetheless I’m interested to see how it turns out…

What are you scared of??

See The awesome-ness of fear for what this challenge is all about…

Check out Road-Trip Rules — How to Avoid a Terrible Travel Experience !

The awesome-ness of fear

This awesome woman, you might of heard of her, Eleanor Roosevelt, once said “do one thing every day that scares you.” Now, I’ve gone ahead and contemplated this quote; even asked a few people about it, and yes, even “googled it” to gage just how many people have deemed this quote important enough to share a few words or thoughts on the subject. Let’s just say enough people had something to say that I’ve decided E.R.’s quote holds some major weight.

So, Eleanor Roosevelt… very much on to something and I’m about jump on that. I really don’t care if she meant this in a figurative or metaphorical way. I don’t. I’m taking those words at face value and challenging myself.

For 100 days straight I am going to do something that scares me. Every day I will conquer a fear that I have. Now, I’m sure anyone who reads this will think a list of 100 is excessive. I’m no pussy!!! (So we’re all clear!) In fact, I’d consider myself pretty ballsy but I do believe that if we all looked hard enough, I AM SURE we could all find 100 things that scare us. Honest. Give yourself enough time with the notion and I’m sure there are 100 things in the world one could be scared of. Don’t be a hero and try to tell me otherwise!!

I obviously don’t have a list of 100 things to do yet and hope to God that a few days I’m just conveniently faced with a fear of mine, because that would take a lot of pressure off me. Regardless, I’m going to come up with a fear of mine every day for 100 days.

“The Challenge” will commence Tuesday, September 1st, 2009. This could be a) totally disastrous b) ludicrous and hilarious c) a total waste of time or d) completely and utterly profound. HA! Only time will tell (horrible cliché: duly noted).