Comfort is cool. But don’t stay there.

I should be in Greece right now.

Instead, I just went for a run and wrote down these thoughts.

I had a plan. A really good plan. One I had waited a year for. I was excited, prepared, and ready to go. I had everything set at home to be gone for 12 days. I was prepared.

And then the plan didn’t work.

That’s life sometimes.

We spend so much time looking forward—planning, preparing, setting goals, thinking about what’s next—that sometimes we forget to look back.

Not to stay there. Just to remember.

What’s familiar? What do you know?

What felt good?

What didn’t?

What brings you joy?

What have you learned?

Because sometimes the things we’ve already done, the places we’ve already been, and the experiences we’ve already had can give us exactly what we need to take the next step into something unknown.

Today, my plans changed. I also got some sad news from a friend and instead of sitting with it, I decided to get uncomfortable and go for a run. Mid-day, post rain humid 90 degrees. Uncomfortable.

Running is familiar to me. It was one of the first things I did when I started exercising 27 years ago. I don’t run often now, but I know it’s always there when I need it.

And today, that simple run took me through my past.

I ran past the place where I took my first flying lesson.

I passed three different places where I worked at the airport.

I passed one of my old gym locations, where I spent three years building something that meant a lot to me. It’s still empty since we left, which was strangely interesting to see.

I passed our first neighborhood when we moved here.

I passed the school my kids went to.

So many familiar places. So many memories.

And it felt comforting.

But I realized something as I ran through all of it:

I don’t want to stay there anymore.

I love those memories. I’m grateful for them. But they’re not where I’m headed.

That’s why I sign up for things that make me uncomfortable—trips, fitness events, speaking engagements…

They’re uncomfortable.

But they’re exciting.

There is something really powerful about doing something you’re not sure you can do.

Comfort is great. We need it. We need the familiar people, places and routines that make us feel grounded.

But comfort only stays comfortable when you’re willing to step outside of it once in a while.

Because if you stay there too long, comfort can turn into stagnation.

And eventually that comfort, it loses its luster.

Maybe that’s what today was really about.

As I ran, I was processing the loss of an experience I had dreamed about for a long time. And at the same time, I found myself thinking about how many people are dealing with much bigger losses—especially the loss of people they wish they could still share those experiences with.

That puts things into perspective.

This isn’t my normal super-positive, motivational post.

This is real life.

And honestly, it’s uncomfortable.

But maybe that’s the point.

If there’s something you’ve been putting off, maybe this is your reminder.

Take the trip.

Sign up for the race.

Try the thing that scares you a little.

Say yes to the experience.

Make the memory.

Do it with the people you love while you can.

Because life is short, and we don't get to control every plan.

We do get to decide what we do when the plan changes.

And as for me?

You bet your ass I’m rebooking a trip ASAP.

Bonus Thoughts! If you’ve made it this far, you’re a trooper…

While running up an especially uncomfortable hill today, I got to the top and I swear, the song lyrics “I’m right where I want to be” played. I don’t know what song it was, I was barely listening since I was with my thoughts mostly. But that song hit right when I needed it to.

On the other side of that uncomfortable hill, the downhill made me feel like I was flying.

That’s the thing. When we get uncomfortable, the other side is usually pretty fun.