Welcome to Live with Samantha, the Personal Growth series. I want to open up with a recent trip I took with my husband, one that didn’t go as planned but turned-out way better than expected. And it reminded me of this truth: sometimes joy is waiting for you just outside your comfort zone.
sometimes joy is waiting for you just outside your comfort zone.
I had planned this 3-day, 2-night trip to Whistler months ago. I’d heard so much about Joffre Lakes and how it’s a must-do hike. We drove almost 3 hours from home, excited for our 5-hour hike, only to find that the trail was still too icy and dangerously slippery. Hiking it just wasn’t safe, and we had to give up on the plan. It was a bit disappointing at first. After all the planning and excitement, things just didn’t go the way we expected. But you know what? Sometimes, the unexpected detours lead you to somewhere even better.
By chance, we discovered a shorter, easier trail nearby called Nairn Falls. The waterfall was absolutely stunning, the sound of rushing water, the breathtaking view, all just 20 minutes from the parking lot. We were so glad we made that unplanned detour. And as we walked back along the same path, we decided to take a little extra adventure. We went down to the glacial river, the water coming straight from the melted snow on the mountain.
It was freezing!
I never jump into a river before (I’m definitely a city girl). But at that moment, I felt like I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and create a lasting memory with my husband. My husband grew up in Canada, so jumping into a river isn’t a big deal for him. But even he hesitated for a moment. I looked at him and said, “Once in a lifetime!” and encouraged both of us to take the leap.
So we jumped, hand in hand.
He had one hand holding mine, the other holding his phone… which meant no hands left for his glasses. And the moment he went under, his glasses were gone.
Here’s the thing: He is really nearsighted. Without his glasses, he can’t see a thing. And me? I’m just a learner driver. I’ve failed my driving test three times and kept putting off trying again. I can only drive with him in the car as my full-licensed co-driver. So yeah, you can imagine the panic we both felt when we realized his glasses were gone.
But here’s what really stuck with me that day:
I had been avoiding driving again because I felt like a failure. I kept saying I’d try again later, but deep down I was scared. Then I remembered a line from a book I recently read, Do the Hard Things First by Scott Allan. He says:
“We often think procrastination is just laziness, but it’s actually fear holding us back.”
It’s fear that stops us from doing what we know we should. But this whole experience taught me something really powerful. Sometimes it’s the discomfort that pushes us forward.
This unexpected adventure reminded me that joy often lies just outside our comfort zones. Things don’t always go as planned, but those detours can lead to unexpected beauty, growth, and a bit of courage to try again. In the end, my husband got emergency contact lenses, and I managed to drive us home safely.
This is just the beginning of Live with Samantha. I really hope you can find some inspiration in this space. Life is full of possibilities, and it’s often the small wins and little steps outside our comfort zones that create the biggest changes. Don’t underestimate the power of even the tiniest victories, because every tiny decision counts. Every brave step matters.
Stay tuned with me. Let’s celebrate the small wins together.
With love,
Samantha
