Getting out of your comfort zone can help you grow in so many ways—and wow, did I grow recently!

Here’s what happened.

One of my beloved boxing coaches, a friendly, upbeat guy in his twenties, decided to follow his dream and “go pro.” I was thrilled for him! A few of my boxing buddies and I decided to take a road trip to support him in his very first professional fight—four hours away in Philadelphia.

No problem. We’d pile into one car, bring some snacks, and make it a one-day adventure. Fun, right?

Well… driving through New York City and New Jersey on a Friday afternoon is no picnic. Think bumper-to-bumper traffic, wild detours, and more than one questionable driver. Five and a half hours later (and one granola bar short of hangry), we finally made it.

I had never been to a live boxing match, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it be scary? Violent? Would the crowd be rowdy? I walked in feeling a little unsure.

To my surprise, it was lovely. Everyone was kind and welcoming—even fans of the opposing fighters. Families were there cheering on their loved ones, and while I caught myself judging a few parents for bringing their young kids, I had to admit—those kids were well cared for. The babies even had noise-canceling headphones! This wasn’t reckless—it was just a different way of life than I was used to. And who was I to judge?

When our guy came out, we cheered our hearts out. But it quickly became clear this wasn’t going to be an easy fight. The other guy was a local favorite—confident, muscular, experienced. And our coach? He’d been sick all week. People told him to reschedule, to wait until he was 100%. But he was determined to show up and “see what he was made of.”

The match began. It was fast-paced, strategic, intense—and yes, hard to watch. Our guy took hit after hit. But he stayed on his feet, smiling, proud to be there. Then, he went down.

He could’ve stayed down. Should’ve, maybe. But he didn’t. He got up, just like my picture book character Piper does in Piper’s Perfect Pick. I thought of my own words:
“It’s not about winning, it’s about the fight. The courage inside, shining bright.”

And that’s exactly what I saw in him.

He didn’t win the match, but he earned everyone’s respect—and proved something important to himself. That was a win.

After hugs, photos, and a few emotional goodbyes, we crammed ourselves back into the car and hit the road.

Now, I was easily 20–30 years older than my road trip buddies. They talked non-stop—with more colorful language than I’m used to—but I found myself laughing, listening, and enjoying the energy. Even the side conversations about Bigfoot didn’t faze me.

I realized I wasn’t just cheering someone else on that night—I was pushing myself too. Different people, different lives, different mindsets. It was eye-opening. And fun.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. But I’ll be honest—my body has since informed me that future road trips should come with legroom… and maybe a travel pillow. So next time I step out of my comfort zone, I’ll pack a little humility, some ibuprofen, and maybe even go pro—just like my coach did. Only my version? It might be with Amtrak.

-Peni