Stepping Out

Walking along the sand, my toes sinking deep past the surface.

I am deeply content watching the waves hit the shore.

It’s sunrise.

The turquoise hue of the water is at its peak.

Everything around me is calm and silent.

The only noise is the whooshing of the waves hitting the sand.

It’s summer, and the water is cool.

I walk down the shore, towards the limitless ocean.

When my feet first hit the chill, crisp water, a calm sensation overtakes my mind.

There is no place I’d rather be.

I am relaxed, and my mind is clear as day.

The only place my mind wanders is to the occasional sounds of seagulls squawking overhead.

The inspiration of the smiling ocean compels me to dream.

It is only the vast waters and I that remain as the last two things on Earth and, of course, the persistent surfers.

The sweet, salty smell clears my mind of distress.

When my notebook is drawn all over, and there are no pages left to document my ideas, it is time to leave.

The only vision left in my mind is of the waves crashing against the shore.

As I head home, I look into the rearview mirror, and see the last view of the ocean.

Continuing, my thoughts become clouded with anxiety.

I wonder how I’m going to live without the waves that I’ve become so accustomed to.

When I arrive home, I can’t help but feel uneased.

The comfort of the surf is gone.

The soft waves, gentle sand, colorful umbrellas, and salty smell are a concrete comfort

that I can look to in order to calm me down.

Anytime I’m nervous, anxious, or scared, I am able to think about the seaside and relax.

High school, and life in general, can be very trying.

Deciding where to go after high school, which career path is best,

and even what shirt you’ll wear tomorrow, are all stressful decisions.

And when there’s nowhere to go, and no one to talk to, it’s especially important

to have something near and dear to relieve that stress.

And while it may be crucial to have comfort, it is equally as important to leave

a comfort zone, and try something new.

We are all creatures of habit,

forced into a routine of never doing anything out of the ordinary.

Would The Beatles be as well known today if they hadn’t stepped outside the box?

What about Steve Jobs? Or Henry Ford?

But it is also important not to be stuck in a safe zone.

Oftentimes, people are not willing to step out of their comfort zones,

because by doing so, they risk jeopardizing their reputation.

Fear of failure should not stop anyone from trying something new.

There is no adverse effect of stepping outside of the box, and more times than not,

it leads to success.

We must do something bigger than what we are to have an impact.

Beyond our comfort zone is where we are able to grow as human beings.

But before we are able to step outside of a comfort zone,

we must find what our comfort is.

And that's when I realize I'm growing up.