“The best piece of advice someone has ever given me was ‘do it scared.’ ” – Sherri Shepherd

I am taking a few forays out of my comfort zone these days. Nothing too monumental but the fact that there are several, at the same times, in different facets of my life have not gone unnoticed.

In my professional world, I have taken on some new work – work that is in an area and in a role I have not done before. I have been observing for a few weeks now but the time has come to launch on my own. I will still have people supporting me but I will be the one out front going forward. Gulp!

In my leisure time with the Toad, we have started taking horseback riding lessons together on a horse named Roxie. In all honesty, I could just groom Roxie for hours. It is very therapeutic meditatively brush her and talk to her. You can feel the peace and the connectedness. I am learning during the riding part as well – and not just the proper posture and heel position. I am learning about looking up and out to where I want to go, to be in control and forward in my leadership while still trusting and listening to others, and to take necessary precautions for risks but to get up in the saddle anyway. It is very gratifying to watch the Toad learn the same lessons.

Finally, I am studying for certification for my professional development. I have been studying fairly diligently for a while and I have just about reached the place of setting a date to write the 4-hour exam….just about. Something is still holding me back from making the appointment – maybe because I am not sure I will ever really be ready. I might need to just take the leap and do this one anyway.