Neale Donald Walsch wrote, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” But stretching beyond your comfort zone often brings the unexpected.
The year after my black Labrador princess (Midnight) crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I briefly fostered a lively pup named Ody. Afterwards, I felt ready for a new challenge: fostering a cat for the first time.
So when the Richmond SPCA sent an urgent foster request for several cats, my eyes landed on the above image of “ShakeNBake,” an orange tabby who was recovering from eye surgery. With an innocent expression and post-surgery cone that made him look even more endearing, I almost couldn't resist him! According to his profile, he needed:
✅ A quiet place to recover—Got it!
✅ A home without other pets—Got that too!
✅ A one-week foster until his post-surgery recheck—Perfect!
Best of all, my son Miles was visiting for the week and could help with my first feline foster. So I began making plans to pick up ShakeNBake on the Friday of Memorial Weekend. Then self-doubt decided to visit for the weekend as well.
When Discomfort Settles In
Maybe this wasn’t the right time. Maybe I wasn’t ready.
Instead of scheduling the pickup, I hesitated…and missed Friday's pickup window. The next pick up window was Monday afternoon—eliminating the chance to get settled in over a quiet holiday weekend.
By that Monday, I had practically memorized RSPCA’s prep guide and watched so many YouTube videos that I felt ready for vet school…yet I was still second-guessing myself. It was hard to imagine having a cat after only parenting, fostering and rescuing dogs over the years.
Then fate stepped in.
I missed an email from the foster coordinator offering to cancel since ShakeNBake’s recheck was just days away. That could have been my easy way out. Instead, I leaned into the discomfort as I picked up the equally nervous ball of orange fur.
When Four Days Turned Into Forever
Within hours of arriving in my home, ShakeNBake made it clear that he was willing to give this inexperienced, wannabe cat lady a try. He weaved between Miles and me, rubbing against us and claiming us both as his own, emitting a loud, whirring purr reminiscent of a helicopter.
By day four, I was smitten. In what’s known as a “foster fail,” I adopted ShakeNBake...renaming him Chopper in honor of his powerful purr.
Then came the unexpected.
Six months in, I found myself battling itchy, burning, watery eyes that forced me to face reality: I was allergic to my new fur baby.
Rehoming wasn't a consideration. Instead, I adapted through prescription meds, extra cleaning, and a commitment to making it work.
Uncomfortable and Unexpected Go Hand-in-Hand
As author Neale Donald Walsch famously wrote, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
But what most people don’t talk about is that discomfort almost always brings the unexpected. Psychologist Carol Dweck, known for her research on growth mindset, emphasizes that real growth happens when we accept unexpected challenges as learning opportunities rather than shying away from them for fear of failure.
I believe that the unexpected frequently follows the uncomfortable—not to stop us, but to see if we’re truly committed to growing and operating on a new level rather than returning to the false security of our comfort zone.
One of my coaching clients learned this firsthand after receiving a promotion. While he had to lean into the discomfort of a new role, that was nothing compared to the unexpected reaction of former peers.
At first, they encouraged him to apply and celebrated with him when he got the promotion. Then, things changed. They suddenly began resenting him and claiming he was no longer “one of them.” So there he was, having to manage former peers despite their negativity.
Fortunately, our conversations had prepared him for the unexpected, so he focused on what he could learn and practice through this experience: namely, navigating conflicts. He wasted no time approaching them to have direct conversations, understand their concerns, and determine what he could do differently. He realized they assumed he had “forgotten” their needs because he wasn’t updating them on progress on a few requests they previously made. Once he cleared the air and committed to more frequent updates, they embraced his leadership again.
What started as an unexpected challenge became a leadership breakthrough. Fortunately, he was prepared by expecting the unexpected…so he embraced it when it showed up.
Resources for Embracing the Uncomfortable and Unexpected
Like my client, I chose to lean into the uncomfortable—and the unexpected—when fostering Chopper.
Fostering is a great way to trial pet ownership while giving an animal a much-needed break. And sometimes, when things fall into place—despite doubts, challenges, and unexpected hiccups—you just might create a forever space…in your home and in your heart!
If you're ready to embrace the uncomfortable and/or the unexpected, here are a few helpful resources:
Comentários