The Comfort Zone

Our Community Listener Andrea shares about her personal experience as she collected hopes on a road trip from California to Kansas:

To be honest, it was not easy to step out of my comfort zone. It is strange to think about and admit, but yes, it is out of my comfort zone to turn the to person next to me on a plane or ask the person behind a store counter a personal question. We normally just go about our own lives with little or no concern for those around us. On my part, I think it is half selfishness and half fear of rejection.

But a guy on the plane actually encouraged me, “What is the worst that can happen? They tell you no?”.

As Hillary and I traveled halfway across the country, being a “Community Listener” forced me to stop and notice those around me. Yes, some people did say no, but there were those who were open and willing to share their hopes. I loved getting to hear about peoples lives and hopes. People would share on video or in the journal and sometimes it would also spark further conversation. For example, on a two hour flight I talked to the person next to me for the whole flight. I normally would have barely said hello, but instead we shared our life stories and were an encouragement to one another.

All because I was willing to step out of my comfort zone and ask about his hopes.

Andrea Curl
Community Listener — Los Angeles, CA

Watch Andrea and Hillary’s Community Listening road trip
Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Day Four, Day Five