Motivational Monday Week 19: Hug a Stranger

19 weeks ago on a quest in 2014 to face some fears and mainly move out of my comfort zones I began Motivational Mondays.  I'm hoping to grow in many areas by embarking on this journey. I have heard that your amount of growth is directly related to how uncomfortable you are willing to get.  Join me this year as I get uncomfortable and get up off my duff.

So, on week 19 I decided to tackle  #21. Hug a Stranger

Well, this particular challenge I was NOT looking forward too at all,  I have my space bubble and I don't like it being invaded by strangers, or certain relatives..but that's a whole other blog.    I had no idea how I was going to meet it other than seeing myself randomly running up and hugging a stranger at the mall or something and then trying to get away before they could find someone to tell them they felt they had somehow been assaulted or victimized.  No matter how I looked at it, it wasn't looking good for me.  I also looked for  a baby that was a stranger.. that was an easy out and not REALLY meeting the challenge, cuz there is nothing uncomfortable about hugging a baby..stranger or not.

I, however had the unfortunate opportunity to be locked up against my will at a local looney bin and it was there that I met a really nice nurse and we bonded over of all things....sneakers.  I told her about how comfortable mine were if she ever considered switching brands and she came back to my room and checked them out and tried one on and was smitten w/ the sneaker.  She said "you came in here because you*** needed my help and you ended up helping me!" and she came over and gave me a BIG hug and said goodbye since she wasn't going to be there the following day when I was getting discharged.

***Just clarifying that I didn't "need" to be in there.. someone got it ALLLLLLLL wrong, but I promise that story in an upcoming blog so that you can read how easily your freedoms can be removed from you in the great USofA

Level of uncomfortable-ness on a scale of 1-10, 1 being slightly uncomfortable and 10 being "I am only doing this for my readers and will never attempt this again" This rates a 5.

So, @ the end of the 19th week of Motivational Mondays I am proud to say I have achieved my goal and can cross it off the list.  

Just 38 more to go... Here's what's left:
1. Do not sit in the back row at church.
2. Do not sit alone in the back row at church.
3. Introduce myself to someone at church I don't know.
4. Audition for a stage show.
5. Go out to eat alone.
6. Do not eat in bed for one day.
7. Do not eat in bed for one week.
8. Go one day without getting on the internet.
9. Post NO STATUS UPDATES on Fb for a week.
10. Write a very personal song and share it with someone.
11. Use of the computer is restricted to the dining room downstairs for one week or if I move.. anywhere in the house except the bedroom.
12. Sit in a chair instead of being on the comfy sofa for one week of therapy.
13. Spend one evening watching TV downstairs.
14. Spend one week watching TV downstairs.
15. Divulge something personal I have never told anyone before.
16. Eat lunch at work in front of my peers.
17. Go out to eat with someone (non family) and not ask to be hidden away in a booth somewhere.
18. Go w/o nail polish, even clear, for one week.
19. No texting (except my therapist) for one week.
20. Do not stay in bed past 9 a.m. on a Saturday.
21. Hug a stranger.
22. Invite someone over to my place and cook them dinner.
23. Make a dessert from scratch to share at work.
24. Go one week eating nothing from a can.
25. Go one week eating nothing purchased pre-prepared.
26. Try a new seafood.
27. Cook a meal for Mom and Mike.
28. Iron clothes for an hour straight
29. No FB for a week.
30. Go one week w/o eating leftovers
31. Wear something leg revealing
32. Go to work one day with no make-up on
33. Write left handed for a day
34. Give $20 to a stranger
35. Pay for the persons order behind me at the drive thru
36. Bless someone I know with at least $100
37. Cook dinner for my pastor and his wife
38. Go one day w/o using the microwave
39. Go 1 week w/o using the microwave
40. Wear my rings on opposite fingers
41. Get another piercing
42. Get another tattoo or get mine fixed
43. Dress up on dress down Friday
44. Use no emoticons for one week
45. Use no abbreviations or special characters when I journal for a day
46. No abbreviations or special characters when journaling for a week.
47. No use of color for one week
48. Have lunch in the cafeteria at work for 1 week
49. Take a local unfamiliar road and see where it leads
50. Have lunch with a co-worker
51. Consume 20 grams of protein everyday for a week
52. Eat fruit everyday for a week