Karaoke and leaving your comfort zone

Karaoke was one thing I have done to get out of my comfort zone. Then again, my life has become anything but comfort zone.

Dec 10, 2024

On the Digital Nomads Giving Back community connection zoom, the discussion of what you do for fun came up. I told about doing karaoke. There were several reasons I took up karaoke several years ago. And a few unexpected things I have gotten out of it.

Surviving the First Christmas without my Wife

During the first Christmas season after my wife had died, I was told my friends that I needed to find things to keep me occupied. A bar nearby had karaoke on Wednesday nights so a group of us decided to make that a weekly event. Other things we did was Taco Tuesday and movie night at the dollar theater. We would meet at the Chipotle restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we would go to the dollar theater for the $1 movie night.

Grief Recovery - Try New Things

As part of grief recovery I knew that it was good to get out, meet people and try new things. It is a well known strategy to learn something new as part of trauma and grief recovery. It also helps depression and anxiety. Along with karaoke, I decided to learn to line dance. I did karaoke on Wednesdays and line dancing was my Sunday night activity that holiday season.

Reducing the fear of public speaking

I expected to start doing public speaking, and I thought karaoke would be a good way to overcome the fear of making a fool of myself in front of people.

Having that experience of karaoke served me well as I prepared for my first mission trip. I was almost the oldest person in the group, so everyone was surprised that I was willing to do so many different things on our trip. When I went returned to the village a few years later, the kids recognized me from performing in the skits on our mission trip.

The people and community

Music as a great way to bridge the cultural divide. I have found places that have a karaoke night in most places I have traveled. From my karaoke groups I have made several connections including:

An architect - who I will hire to help design our lab and makerspace
Someone who works for the consulate - always a great connection as a digital nomad
a few Dj’s and various event planners
A chessmaster
A pilot who does ministry flights into the jungle
Many people from all socio-economic backgrounds

Karaoke is a truly multicultural activity.

The Venues

The places I have done karaoke is as varied as the people I have met. From churches to bars, hotel lobbies, hostels, and parties.

Sunbird in Colorado Springs

Sadly they closed a few years ago. This was a restaurant perched on top of one of the ridges west of the interstate in Colorado Springs. It had amazing views overlooking the upper down-town area. They had a large patio where they did the karaoke. We could watch the shadow growing across the city as the sun faded behind the mountains. As the city became a sea of lights, we sang along to each others song choses, shared drinks and snacks. They even had fire circles and you could order the fixings for smore’s from the dessert menu.

Some random building somewhere

This has to be one of my favorite karaoke events. It happened while several of us were waiting out a storm. A bunch of people walking down the street had all ducked into a building during a particularly strong downpour. A few of us started talking about our favorite songs. Soon someone had pulled out their cellphone. We spent the next hour in an impromptu karaoke using nothing but a few cellphones. Talk about strangers passing in the night. Reminds me of a journey song…

Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night

Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night

I can’t remember where this was. Probably in Buenos Aires.

I have done this few times to pass the time during meetings or shows while the sound crew worked through technical difficulties. Or just around a cam-fire on a mission trip. Karaoke serves well in many different situations. And music is very multicultural. You don’t need to understand the language to share your musical styles.

Leaving your comfort zone

As I am preparing to launch my coaching service, I have decided to focus on a different message each week on social media and notes. This week I am focusing on getting out of your comfort zone. Karaoke was one thing I have done to get out of my comfort zone. Of course, my life has become anything but comfort zone.

I have known a lot of people who regret not taking more risks in life. My coaching is specifically for those who find themselves looking down a long road of uncertainty ahead. But even before getting to a place of uncertainty, do something to prepare for the unknowns in life. Taking a trip out of your comfort zone as one place to start. And it doesn’t have to be something major. Just strike up a conversation with a stranger or go visit someplace you wouldn’t normally visit.

Leave a comment a let me know if you find yourself longing for a change or what steps you are taking to try something new.