Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)November 3rd, 2009 View Comments |
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Following up from the discussion at TribeCon about the power of making yourself uncomfortable, a recent story about putting the idea into practice on a New Orleans Halloween late night extended to a morning’s flying to Houston and San Francisco.
At TribeCon 2009 in New Orleans last week I got to participate in a panel discussion about how to embrace making yourself uncomfortable for personal and professional growth.
Little did I know I would get to put the idea to use just a couple days later.
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When I originally planned out my travel schedule for this fall, I booked my flight from New Orleans to San Francisco on the only reasonably-priced flight I could find, a 7 AM departure on the Sunday morning after Halloween. As I booked the ticket, I knew very well that I was also planning on either spending the night at the airport or going straight to the airport from a rollicking good time.
What I hadn’t planned on:
- Having the best Halloween of my life,
- Having a great time at Voodoo Music Experience with great guides and partners-in-adventure,
- Getting my face painted as a Zombie at the music festival,
- Taking a 5 AM challenge to keep the face paint on during my flight from New Orleans to Houston to San Francisco that morning.
But that’s why it was so fun, freeing and powerful.
First off, an important point: I’m an unquestioned introvert, and I’m not an exhibitionist. I’ve never liked Halloween; I’ve always loved to see the creativity and costumes, but I’ve never wanted to participate. I’ve skipped many Halloween parties, and taken a general pass on the holiday throughout my life. I can’t remember a single good costume I’ve worn over the years. I was a face-paint virgin.
But, when friends Sloane and Kyle jumped right in to get their faces painted as zombies at the festival, despite a bit of reluctance, it seemed like a good opportunity to try something new.
Without feeling physically different, I initially felt emotionally different, a little self-conscious, even if everyone else was doing it. I showed pictures from my camera of what I looked like without the face paint. But the feeling faded, and as the night continued at the festival and deeper into the New Orleans nightlife, I forgot about it.
And thus, helped by a little liquid courage, when Kyle and Sloane offered to drive me to the airport at 5 AM to catch my flight, on the condition that I kept the zombie face paint on for my flights to Houston and San Francisco that morning, it wasn’t even a decision. Of course I would.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans, LA
Would you let a friend board a plane looking like this?
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans, LA
Waiting to go through security, worried a little bit about whether security will let me through without taking off the face paint, an unfounded concern as it turned out.
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
Getting ready to go through security at MSY (ping @feelgoodz @sloane) http://flic.kr/p/7c4tBV (tweet)
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
#photo a guaranteed conversation starter, getting ready to board flight http://flic.kr/p/7c8t9N (tweet)
On board the first flight from New Orleans to Houston
On board the plane from New Orleans to Houston, around 6:45 AM. As it turned out, I sat in the front row, at the entrance to the plane, enjoying the many looks from people getting on. Looks, smiles, quick glances, but no comments.
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
Taking a bit of #Voodoo and a NOLA Halloween on my flight (cc @feelgoodz @sloane) http://flic.kr/p/7c8A6u (tweet)
Layover at George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport
Enjoying an hour’s layover at George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport. A normal Sunday 8 AM, obviously.
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
A zombie’s layover in Houston airport (a late Halloween night, extended) #greatstory http://flic.kr/p/7c6cdt (tweet)
On board the second flight from Houston to San Francisco
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
Bringing a New Orleans #Voodoo Zombie to SF (on the second plane) #greatstory http://flic.kr/p/7c6z6g (tweet)
On board the second flight from Houston to San Francisco
Hanging with the airplane staff on the second flight from Houston to San Francisco.
At final destination, San Francisco International Airport
Arrived, a deal completed, at San Francisco International Airport, around 11 AM local time.
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
The Deal, completed; a NOLA #Voodoo Halloween zombie lands in SF http://flic.kr/p/7cfCQY (tweet)
Sharing the moment on Twitter:
Done. @sloane: The Deal. @feelgoodz & I drive @tdavidson to dawn flight, the #Voodoo NOLA Halloween makeup stays on. http://flic.kr/p/7c8A6u (tweet)
Once I arrived and took a couple pictures, I washed off the face paint the men’s bathroom. Interestingly, a couple guys came up to me and said they had flown the same route and had noticed me get on the planes in New Orleans and Houston and had been betting why I was in face paint, but hadn’t asked me.
And that was the most curious thing to me. Nobody asked me about the face paint. Not security, or the airline ticket-takers, or fellow passengers, or the stewards and stewardesses, or people walking in the airports, or even the passengers I sat next to (perhaps, especially the passengers I sat next to). All probably curious, but afraid to ask.
But instead of waiting for people to ask, I embraced this as an opportunity to start a lot of conversations. I converted many glances and quick smiles into conversations and laughs, simply by reaching out to people and explaining a little bit about why I was dressed in muddy shoes, a blazer and silver Zombie face paint that morning. Simply by being a little uncomfortable, by being willing to make a fool of myself, I hope I brought a little bit of joy to everyone that day: to everyone that saw me but didn’t say anything, to everyone I talked to and laughed with that morning and hopefully to everyone that followed the story on Twitter around the world.
Would I do it again? If the opportunity presented itself, yes. Would I plan to do it? No.
Why the difference? Because the joy was in running with the moment, with accepting the opportunity, to embracing the simple fun involved with carrying an in-context joy to an out-of-context oddity, to creating an unexpected experience and story for us all to enjoy.
The lesson? Being different usually isn’t the plunge we think it is; instead of shying away from trying something new or standing out, embrace the opportunity for yourself and for others. Being “a human in public” both online and offline is a fantastic way to connect with people and build real relationships, whether they exist only in the moment or forever.
And I couldn’t have done it without you.
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Thanks to Sloane, Kyle and Andrew and the rest of the New Orleans community for showing me a truly great time and helping create a story for all of us to share. I’ll see you all again soon.
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All the pictures above on Flickr, A Zombie’s Journey.
November 3rd, 2009 at 13:03
“And that was the most curious thing to me. Nobody asked me about the face paint.”
It was the day…after Halloween..
November 3rd, 2009 at 13:45
Great, great post. All I did for Halloween was paint walls…sadly, no faces…and no zombie patterns… But really, kudos doing DOING it. :D Thanks for sharing!
November 3rd, 2009 at 13:55
As a performer yourself, I'm guessing you'd have no problems doing the same thing :)
November 3rd, 2009 at 13:57
Taylor – This is maybe my favorite blog post ever on your blog. Though every post is insightful and full of information, this was a story of YOU and you told it so incredibly well. In telling people about this, I said exactly what you did. That you're naturally an introvert so this was a big deal for you – but that the best and most wonderful and admirable thing about you is that you know who you are but are willing to push the boundaries and stretch yourself, even when it DOES make you uncomfortable.
I'm looking forward to many more adventures with you in person soon.
November 3rd, 2009 at 14:06
I'm really, really shocked no one engaged you. Even the obvious “how was the party?” or “what was the bet you lost?” even more so because of the dichotomy of face paint combined with nice shirt & blazer.
Since it's election day I'll extrapolate it to being a sad commentary on public discourse. When we don't engage even those that make us uncomfortable we miss a chance to learn, to find the commonalities, the edge cases and the core issues. Echo chambers and my-way or no-way seem flow from those missed opportunities.
Awesome tale though.
November 3rd, 2009 at 14:31
Interesting how scared folks are about talking to strangers… well given that you looked like a bad Kiss impression.. that might be somewhat explainable but more importantly, I think this post shows how we have lost the willingness to step outside ourselves and just start a damn conversation with a stranger. Thanks for reminding us we all should ask the crazy face painted guy — dude, what's up?
@TomMartin
November 3rd, 2009 at 17:29
Yes, but I'm still surprised nobody asked, not even a simple “did you have a good Halloween?”
November 3rd, 2009 at 17:43
Yep, by the time I reached SF I was looking pretty ragged. Maybe that's why nobody asked me about it :)
Personally I don't think this is something we've “lost”, but something that is ingrained culturally. It would be interesting to try this in other cultures and contexts and see the response. Actually, some day perhaps I'll share stories of my random “cultural tests” in the UK, Japan and India..
November 3rd, 2009 at 17:47
Well, I don't want to make it a commentary on society and public discourse, it's really too small of a sample to use for broad generalizations. Let's just consider it a story to remember next time we encounter a similar (or, more likely, not-so-similar) situation in our daily lives. Pay attention. Say hello. And care.
November 3rd, 2009 at 18:03
Thank you. Obviously the experience couldn't have happened without you, but more than that, in writing about it, just trying to learn from your gift in creating and sharing stories that people can identify with, connect to and care about. Causes/events/experiences/awesomeness like Cause It's My Birthday are powerful ways to bring people together by using our lives as platforms and “accessible happy places” to make it easier for people to care, contribute and change.
And same here :)
November 4th, 2009 at 5:02
Taylor, this is a great post, and was a great experiment and Halloween.
I think its interesting that no-one asked. This is one thing I love about New Orleans, people feel free to let their freak flag fly, and most have realized that no-one really cares. Or at least, people are used to it. If more people were able to let go of what they fear people are thinking about them, and just be themselves, there would be a lot more well-adjusted people.
Great post, wonderful to see you. Look forward to seeing you again soon, my man.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:42
One more reason to love New Orleans :)
November 4th, 2009 at 20:36
“instead of shying away from trying something new or standing out, embrace the opportunity for yourself and for others.”
Now you are getting at the nub of creativity.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:17
Just now? :)
The “for yourself and for others” is the key bit for me. It's not just about our actions and attitude impact us, but how they impact others: creating shared experiences that are greater than the sum of the parts. Interpersonal synergy, in a way.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:02
Just seeing the full write up of this adventure after watching it unfold live. My question, which I remember having real-time, was why you're so serious in most of the pictures?
I also love the irony (or something) of you feeling very alive while painted as the living dead.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:46
A simple, human reason: I don't like to smile in pictures (a little different from in-person).
I'm not really that serious, whatever the facial expression implies.
(and I hadn't thought of that irony!)
November 10th, 2009 at 13:48
[...] think the solution is to train yourself– read long books, force yourself out of your comfort zone habitually and [...]
November 10th, 2009 at 15:20
Cause zombie's are serious! Cause the face paint looks better with a straight face. But mostly, cause you don't like to smile in pictures.
Ok, so you've had fun traveling to *wherever* you are. In the words of a New Orleanian, “Come home now ok.”
November 11th, 2009 at 23:37
Very interesting experience. Thanks for sharing.
Have seen people wearing peculiar clothes in the metro, but can't expect on a plane.
Think the security would be a barrier.
http://www.OurExplorer.com
local guides, local wisdom
November 12th, 2009 at 13:13
Cause a smile would not have fit the costume. Cause I left my smile in
New Orleans.
Working on it…
On Wednesday, November 11, 2009, Disqus
November 16th, 2009 at 15:06
I was surprised to hear that no one commented on your face paint. If I had seen someone with face paint in an airport I may not have asked him about it, but I would definitely have said something if he sat next to me on the flight. Anyway, sounds like a great experience. In other words, everything that pushes us out of our comfort zone usually is!
November 16th, 2009 at 18:03
Well, by the end, I was looking pretty ragged / scary…
On the second flight, I ended up engaging the guy sitting next to me in a conversation about the face paint, which then led into a biz conversation. Hopefully it's a story he'll remember…
December 11th, 2009 at 4:05
Haha thats an awesome story man!
I'm going to a football match in 2 weeks and was going to put a bit of face paint on! Was getting worried about security but I guess its not an issue?? :)
December 11th, 2009 at 17:46
Actually, one of the airline stewards I talked to mentioned that a
couple of guys wearing face paint flew on one his flights a week
prior; thus when he saw me get on the plane, he thought “hey, another
face-painter”.
Different reason in my case :). But my guess is you'll be fine.
Of course, you could always call the airport to ask, right?
December 12th, 2009 at 1:46
Actually, one of the airline stewards I talked to mentioned that arncouple of guys wearing face paint flew on one his flights a weekrnprior; thus when he saw me get on the plane, he thought “hey, anotherrnface-painter”.rnrnDifferent reason in my case :). But my guess is you’ll be fine.rnrnOf course, you could always call the airport to ask, right?