Every self-help book, blog, or influencer will tell you that growth happens when you push outside your comfort zone. But it’s a comfort zone for a reason. It feels good and familiar. Like being in a cozy bed with the blankets up. Sure, things may stay the same as they’ve always been, but throwing the covers off and braving the world outside can be hard.
We had a lot of choices for excursions on our trip last month, and being Plant Nerds (and proud of it), we saw that in Honduras we could go and tour a chocolate plantation and production facility. We’ve occasionally carried the Cacao plant at the Nursery, but it’s finicky in this area and doesn’t tend to produce fruits without a lot of extra work. Seeing it in its natural environment where it grows and thrives would have been interesting.
Would have, because there was another excursion on the list that I wanted to do but I wasn’t sure Kim would do it. It was titled “Extreme Ziplining” with lines up to 1600 feet long and starting on 80’ platforms over the jungle floor. Heights don’t bother me, and in an effort not to have a busman’s holiday, I decided I wanted to zipline. Kim isn’t so fond of heights, so I wasn’t sure where she’d land on it, but she decided to jump (literally) out of her comfort zone and give it a try.
We ended up being in a group of 8 of varying ages. We all got harnessed and helmeted, and then we squished into the back of a pickup truck with makeshift seats and started a short but bumpy ride to our start point. As we rode, there was an older lady with us who seemed a little nervous and was sort of hanging on to Kim for dear life. She apologized to Kim for talking her head off, but she said that’s what she did when she was nervous. Her granddaughter was the cruise ship’s environmental officer, and at this particular stop she had decided she was finally going to zipline. She had apparently almost done it a few other times but had bailed at the last minute. Now she was going!
Honestly, everyone in our group seemed a little nervous, so when they asked who was going to jump first, no one would. I think everyone was waiting to see someone else go, so finally we volunteered to be the guinea pigs. Kim went first and shot off from the first platform at a dizzying speed. If she was scared, at this point she didn’t show it. But honestly, the thing we enjoyed most was watching this complete stranger (I’m pretty sure she was 80+!) that we’d just met take on something completely new that terrified her. The ziplines were fast, and you were way up over the jungle floor. She was thrilled, and we took it upon ourselves to get some pictures and videos of her having this new experience. It was way out of her comfort zone, but she was giddy by the end!
And so, whether you are in your 20s, 40s, 80s, or somewhere in between, there is always room for something new! Maybe it’s a new adventure like ziplining or maybe it’s taking on a new hobby like chickens, bees, or veggies. Don’t stay where it’s comfortable, push yourself to try something new and you’ll be amazed at how you grow!
P.S. If a veggie garden is the thing you’re going to try, you picked the perfect time of year! Warm, sunshiny days are perfect for getting veggie gardens started, and this Saturday (the 15th) at 10 am you can join us to learn all of our best tips and tricks on veggie gardening in Florida.
P.P.S. And of course, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Your sweetheart doesn’t want jewelry or chocolates this year, they want plants! Check out our Valentine Gift Guide here, and swing in to pick up the perfect present for your Valentine.
