Going “outside my comfort zone”
One of my favorite book bloggers, George Murray at Bookninja, was recently on a local radio show, talking about phrases that drove him crazy. I didn’t phone in, but if I had, I would have mentioned “going outside your comfort zone.” I had someone say this to me recently, in relation to Lonely, as in, ‘Wow, publishing a book about loneliness–that’s really going outside your comfort zone, isn’t it?”
Now, for me, going outside my comfort zone involves wearing high heels, or having to host a dinner party for eight. Publishing a first-person account of a long-term, highly personal problem has nothing to do with my comfort zone. I’m so far “outside” of it, it might as well be on a different planet. It’s exceptionally strange to start seeing media about me, my life, and my family. I know that I invited a lot of this by writing the book, but it’s still discomfiting to see (and hear) strangers talking about me, and diagnosing me — telling me that I take things too seriously, or that everything is the result of divorce, or that I’m really just depressed.
Don’t get me wrong. I’d much rather have the media than not, but it’s not easy, and it’s not anything I’m used to. I can only hope it will get easier in time.
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 4:15 pm and is filed under the category First Time Writer Stuff.
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2 Responses to “Going “outside my comfort zone””
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Dear Emily,
My beautiful 36 year old daughter lives in this
world of loneliness and I’m scared for her.
She also suffers with anorexia, which is a very
lonely disease. So much of your book is absolute
truth and I just wanted to say ThankYou for your
courage and honesty.
“God Bless” A friend
You know what Emily, you are a beautiful writer with easy to follow words, feelings and thoughts. I don’t think it will ever be easy to hear other’s assessments of our work or our lonliness. Sometimes you just need to lend a deaf ear to negativity, and focus on whatever possitives may come from it.No one, no matter how seasoned they are at thier work,can properly assess any strangers life or lonliness. Plus, there is nothing comfortable about having to talk about a topic that is so highly stigmatised. Yes you open yourself up for critic, but you also open yourself up for much greater things.Meeting people of like mind and heart, who can relate and sigh a sigh of relief, because in thier lonliest hour..you are right here.