I don’t step out of my comfort zone very often. I’m cautious. I’m consistent. And most of the time I like it just that way.

Sometimes, however, I get the urge to do something different, to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to do something I’m afraid of. I don’t do this nearly enough. Not even close, really. But when I do finally get up the courage to do something, I don’t usually regret it.

This summer I flew on a plane to the biggest blogging conference in the country. So out of my comfort zone I still can’t quite believe I did it (and am doing it again with another conference in a few weeks!).

A few months prior to the conference I reached out on a forum for a roommate. Immediately after posting the message, I wondered if I had made the right choice. How could I possibly share a room with someone I had never met before? I mean, I was far from being a freshman in college!

In August I met the woman whose email I had answered, agreeing to share a room. She lived in France. She grew up close to where I grew up. She had a blog I liked and I had no idea really that she would be the perfect person to explore a conference with for three days.

Jacki helped to make me comfortable outside my comfort zone. She helped me start up conversations with strangers, encouraged me to introduce myself to bloggers I admire, pushed me out onto the dance floor and assured me my outfits looked great.

I left the conference with a renewed sense of self and she left the conference inspired.

Since BlogHer, Jacki has turned her blogging into a social good campaign. Today she left Paris on a plane to Tanzania to run in the Kilamanjaro half marathon – her first big race of that length. She’s running for herself, of course , to accomplish the goal she’s set for herself. But she’s also running for so much more than that. She is running 13 miles for 13 carefully chosen charities – charities that she believes in and knows and has written about and researched over the past few months. She is, literally, traveling outside of her comfort zone for the good of others.

Thanks, Jacki, for helping me through my own adventure beyond my comfort zone. I am so looking forward to hearing all about yours!

Read Jacki’s blog hjunderway.com to find out more about her 13 for 13 campaign.

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