I feel like there’s a lot of pressure for me to produce some pretty kickass content for the new Unfiltered thing I’ve got going here. Fortunately, I don’t cry when I’m working under pressure. Okay maybe sometimes, but not in this case.

I’ve decided that I’m going try to do something scary every day and write about it. Now, what is scary to me and what is scary to you may be completely different things, so take the whole “scary” thing with a grain of salt.

So while I have this fantastic idea of doing something that gets me out of my comfort zone every day, I first have to decide what I’m afraid of. This is going to be one big learning lesson about myself, and guess what? You get to be here for it.

What scares me? (This isn’t a complete list, FYI) What is on the list that I could feasibly challenge myself with every day?

1. Drowning. Okay so I can’t go jump into Lake Michigan and go for a swim, unless there’s a hot paramedic waiting for me with a blanket and oxygen mask when I decide I’m over the whole potential-hypothermia thing. I’ll leave this one off to the side. Unless you’re the hot paramedic. And if that’s the case – why are you reading my blog and not trying to find me IRL so we can arrange for you to save my life?
2. Failing at work. Since I’ve decided that work is my “life” right now (okay not in the sense like I don’t have a life outside of work – so take that with a grain of salt), if I fail at work, essentially I’m failing at life. I’m terrified that I’m going to screw up royally. I know at my level I don’t deal with enough life-or-death stuff that I could screw anything up for real. But the thought that maybe I could petrifies me. I’m not afraid to take on new tasks, in fact, I seek them out. I guess there’s not a lot I could do on this one – it’ll probably ease up as I get more comfortable in my role.
3. Dying alone. I see how happy my parents are and I definitely want that. But then I get my career-woman face on and I don’t want to be held back. And then I see happy couples and I puke in my mouth a little bit. I guess it’s just been so long that I’ve allowed myself to feel like that about anyone that I am slightly nauseous when I see it. But really, where do you find the balance between career-driven and being okay with settling down? Fortunately I’m 24 and have pleeeeenty of time to ponder that.
4. Talking to strangers if I’m not in a business or networking setting. I can run up to anyone at a networking event or at work and strike up a conversation. Male or female, older or younger, that doesn’t scare me. It’s in places like, the grocery store, or say, a bar, where people are half-way expected to be social, (and/or meet the loves of their lives? OMG THE PRESSURE) that I’ll clam up. Unless I’m at a bar for a networking event, then I’m fine. But if it’s just me and the gals, I have a hard time just going up to a guy and chatting him up. Funny, considering my whole view on dating. Which is another post in itself.

What kind of stuff is scary for you? Are you comfortable enough with yourself to try something scary every day?