Comfort Zones

I was thrilled to welcome Katherine into my home when she arrived in Alaska.  I immediately put her work, having her sharing her thoughts in today’s post.  I know you will enjoy her perspective (and post) as she adjusts to life in America. – Sheli

Last month, I uprooted my life and moved to Alaska from my home, a small village in The Cotswolds, UK. While I spent a good part of the previous three years of my life travelling around the world, actually deciding to move and live 4500 miles away from my friends and family, albeit in pursuit of a fantastic job opportunity, was pushing it even for me. From the moment the plane lifted out of London Heathrow, I have been challenged, forced outside of my comfort zone almost daily.

How do I get a bank account?
What’s a social security number?
 
What are snow tires?
Why are the stores so big?
 
Why do people keep turning right on red?
 
What’s “cable tv”?
 
How do I write a check?
 
And perhaps most crucially, how can I get a good cup of tea?
However, with the slow process of integrating into a new country, I’ve slowly questioned why we are so afraid of leaving our comfort zones? From an evolutionary perspective, comfort zones make sense. It was better to stay warm and toasty in the cave than risk losing energy outside and being consumed by a bear – okay, maybe that last one still has some truth for Alaska! However, on the whole I’ve come to see that while our comfort zones protect us from uncomfortable new situations, they also prevent us from growing.
 
I am guilty of this. I can think of endless times I’ve sat in my cave watching Netflix, avoiding that trip I’ve put off or a hobby I’ve always wanted to do, but was too scared to go to the class alone. I’d constantly justify my excuses, and eventually, the cave became my routine, sheltering me from my potential. The amusing thing is, as soon as I stepped out of it, I realized the cave wasn’t such a comfortable option after all. Stepping outside of my comfort zone has made me realize that our comfort zones will grow over time if we challenge them. As they do so, opening up the world for us to explore in ways you never thought possible.
 
I may not have figured out exactly how to get a credit card or why the grocery stores are just so big, however, I have become more fearless, more confident and made some fantastic friends already. I can also safely say I have never felt more fulfilled in my life.
 
There’s a saying coined by American author John A. Shed that reads, “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for”.

So, where do we genuinely want our boats to be? I know I want mine to be in the Alaskan ocean!

A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.

American author John A. Shed Tweet

2 Comments

  1. Welcome to Alaska, Katherine. I hope the journey finding the answers to your questions brings you in contact with many exceptional people. Thank you for sharing your experience!

    Reply

  2. Congratulations, Katherine! Welcome to Alaska.. The Greatland! 🙂 Love your message about going outside The Comfort Zone. It’s completely true! I don’t know if I ever would have found out who I truly am if I didn’t move thousands of miles away from my family, friends, and life as I knew it. So glad I did because I have an enduring and loving Alaska Family of Friends that are worth their weight in gold. Have fun exploring and creating your Alaska life and growing your own Alaska Fremily (Friends that are Family). Cheers to you!

    Reply

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About Author

Picture of Katherine Newell

Katherine Newell

Katherine is a researcher who just moved to Anchorage. Originally from the UK she loves travelling, meeting new people but also just hanging out with her labradoodle Nigel who is back in the UK. She is currently trying to befriend everyone in Anchorage and can be found in the nearest tea store or look for the car trying stay on the “other” side of the road.

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