Outside your comfort zone:AIB Terra Sapient

[Maister]

We tend to hug familiar coastlines in our journey through life. When and how often do you find yourself in situations where you feel distinctly UNcomfortable - either intentionally or otherwise?

A few weeks ago I had dinner at someone's house. I was just getting ready to dig in to eat when the host asked me to say grace. For those who don't know me, I'm definitely NOT a person who engages in relgious rituals. Talk about akward.

How about you - been in situations outside your comfort zone recently?

[TerraSapient]

Oooo this thread was inspired by me? Is that what "AIB" means?

Anyway... On numerous occasions in my life, I have been in a "professional" setting (I use quotations because the situation was suppose to be a professional setting, but some yahoo always brings up personal and highly controversial topics, thereby IMO making the setting not a professional one) when someone (typically an older Caucasian man - just sayin') goes off on a tangent about everything that is wrong with the world, to include of course gay people, then turns to ask me what my husband does for a living. These days, I get a kick out of saying, "Well, my wife...."

I use to get really really tense and uncomfortable in these situations. I use to just say, "My spouse" to avoid the confrontation. Not anymore. I figure if they are dumb enough to assume everyone is just like them, then they can be the ones to be uncomfortable.

[Maister]

Situation #2 - for a while I went to a few classes at a yoga studio (it was free for me). At first I felt distinctly self-concious. There were very few males and I felt like I was making a fool of myself much of the time - and I probably was, but after a while stopped caring (but ultimately also stopped going).

[dandy_warhol]

I'm wearing skinny jeans today - that is definitely out of my comfort zone. I'm much more of a track pants kinda person.

[TerraSapient]

My situation #2:

Going out in public with some of my in-laws (not MWs direct family, but the extended folks).
They tend to be very kind, but very... um... ignorant. They use vocabulary that I find taboo. They also wear sweat pants everywhere. Fine dining establishment? Sweat pants. Shopping excursion? Sweat pants.

Wait... does being embarrassed by someone count as being uncomfortable?

[Planit]

I'm wearing skinny jeans today - that is definitely out of my comfort zone. I'm much more of a track pants kinda person.

Are you wearing those to support your knee?



In my case, I get hit with very right-wing conversations (this is a very red county) and whats wrong with this country talks. I try to just smile and go on without saying anything but its very difficult. I want to say something like "stay ignorant my firend" but that would be a bad idea. Recently a upper management individual made the statement that President Obama was a Muslim. I replied "then why does he go to a Christian church?" His reply was "To make it look like he isn't."

[Hink]

Going to dinner with my grandparents is always an experience.

My grandfather, before he died, had lost much of his hearing. We would go to the same Chinese restaurant in Toledo because it was his favorite. Whenever they would seat us though, he would also begin the explanation of how / why "orientals" are inferior, and how he fought against the Japanese in the war....

Since he couldn't hear, he usually was yelling, which made us all the object of people's glares.

[TerraSapient]

Recently a upper management individual made the statement that President Obama was a Muslim. I replied "then why does he go to a Christian church?" His reply was "To make it look like he isn't."

Whenever they would seat us though, he would also begin the explanation of how / why "orientals" are inferior, and how he fought against the Japanese in the war....

Since he couldn't hear, he usually was yelling, which made us all the object of people's glares.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me extremely uncomfortable. Especially when it is in public or when it comes from someone I can't "talk back" to.

[Mud Princess]

I make it a point to avoid mixing business with politics. My clients do not need to know my political views or affiliations. There are some firms (usually large engineering firms) that make political contributions, but that sort of thing goes against my nature.

Oddly enough, I work with someone whose politics (especially on social issues) are the opposite of mine. I've accepted it since he's a colleague, not a client, and otherwise we have a great working relationship. But one day, the two of us were having lunch with a client in a conservative part of the country. Like many people, the client assumed that he was dealing with like-minded individuals, and made some sort of political statement. I don't even remember what it was. My colleague nodded in agreement, and responded by saying that he was a Republican, but (pointing to me) "She's a Democrat." Oof. Actually, that was not accurate -- I'm not enrolled in any political party -- but it made me very uncomfortable. I said little for the rest of the meal. Much later, away from the client, I told my colleague to never do that again. I don't think he realized how he'd put me on the spot. And I sure didn't want to get into these issues with our client.

[imaplanner]

Going to dinner with my grandparents is always an experience.

My grandfather, before he died, had lost much of his hearing. We would go to the same Chinese restaurant in Toledo because it was his favorite. Whenever they would seat us though, he would also begin the explanation of how / why "orientals" are inferior, and how he fought against the Japanese in the war....

Since he couldn't hear, he usually was yelling, which made us all the object of people's glares.

Ha. There is one particularly well known local old man around here that is always complaining about "the ornamentals". So ignorant that he can't even get that right. But it does amuse me.

Anyways, Maisters first example hits home with me. Having been asked to say grace once or twice it has been uncomfortable because I don't really know what to say.

[Whose Yur Planner]

Anyways, Maisters first example hits home with me. Having been asked to say grace once or twice it has been uncomfortable because I don't really know what to say.

Just offer thanks for the food and the opportunity to gather together. Most Christian grace before a meal aren't that long.

[Blide]

I have to agree on politics. I love debating it but I've encountered so many people (on both sides) that are so uninformed that it's not even worth talking about it. There's no way I'm going argue over a bunch of demagoguery when its clear they wouldn't be making those statements if they were the least bit informed or persuadable. If those things do come up in casual talk, I'm going to be looking to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

In general though, I do find a lot of social situations to be pretty uncomfortable. As an introvert, I'm just out of my element, especially when it's with a bunch of people I have little in common with.

[ofos]

Ha. There is one particularly well known local old man around here that is always complaining about "the ornamentals". So ignorant that he can't even get that right. But it does amuse me.

Anyways, Maisters first example hits home with me. Having been asked to say grace once or twice it has been uncomfortable because I don't really know what to say.

Just offer thanks for the food and the opportunity to gather together. Most Christian grace before a meal aren't that long.

Just tell the host no thanks and that you're not comfortable saying grace. There are lots of religious people who aren't comfortable with public prayer either.

[Whose Yur Planner]

Just tell the host no thanks and that you're not comfortable saying grace. There are lots of religious people who aren't comfortable with public prayer either.

That would work. I'm just so used to saying grace, both privately and publically, that I don't really think about it. FWIW, I say a quick, silent word of thanks (grace) before every meal. Most of my non christian go silent briefly and start the conversations again when I'm done, so it works both ways. I get the occasional question, but that's it.

[Tranplanner]

Having been asked to say grace once or twice it has been uncomfortable because I don't really know what to say.

I would be tempted to say "rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub", but have never had the opportunity.

[DetroitPlanner]

I would be tempted to say "rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub", but have never had the opportunity.

Better would be

"Good Friends, Good Meat!"
"Good God! Let's EAT!"

[kms]

I was at training a couple of weeks ago. I had dinner with one of my coworkers, then I went back to my room, and he to his room. I was bored and lonely, but it took me close to an hour to get the nerve to walk down to the hotel bar to see if I knew anyone there. I've known a lot of the people at training for 20 years, so I shouldn't have felt awkward about going. I had a difficult time because I'm used to being by myself, and I don't spend a lot of time in bars.

I didn't see anyone I knew in the bar, and that added to the awkwardness of going there in the first place. I pretty much walked in, then out.

I was happy when one of my friends from another job called and invited me to meet her, and we found our way to the bar and I really enjoyed the company of the others who gatherd around us.

[michaelskis]

I don't think I have a comfort zone. Maybe a familiar zone, but not a comfort zone. Strange thing is that I crave being outside my familiar zone and will seek out new challenges.

[Zoning Goddess]

I've never been able to handle Chamber of Commerce events/ cocktail parties, etc, where "small talk" is required. Just can't do it.

Mom, the kid, and I were at Thanksgiving at my brother's maybe 10 years ago, it was balmy, the kids were eating outside at a picnic table, and my son came inside to inform me my SIL's BIL who was a minister had told the kids to pray before eating and my kid said "I don't think so" and the minister told him he couldn't eat unless he prayed first. My mom, brother, SIL and her family, all staring at me. I finally told my kid to just go eat and if the "minister" said anything else, to tell me and I would handle it. Luckily the a$$hole came inside to eat with the other adults and left him alone. My mom said I should have told him to pray. Religious people: don't think everyone else is!

[wahday]

I'm out of my comfort zone on a regular basis at my work. Just when I think I have a handle on the range of things I am responsible for, I learn about some new dark corner I was not aware of. If its not the procedures and protocols for use of General Obligation Bond money, its the format of quarterly reports or the subtle details of our long term development agreement with the City and the complex intermingling of HOME, CDBG, GO Bonds, TIF monies and all the reporting that goes with each.

The more I think about it, being uncomfortable is becoming my new comfort zone...