Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

By Lottie Stockdale

Thursday 25th July 2019

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone In Atsitsa Bay

I’m a firm believer in pushing yourself just enough outside of your comfort zone. I’ve moved to a new city with just two days notice, travelled south-east Asia with only three nights accommodation booked and a flight home six months later and once ate seal because I’ll try all food once (I would not recommend seal). When I first started working at Skyros Holidays I had lost a lot of confidence – my career as a teacher hadn’t worked out and I’d moved back home to the Isle of Wight when six weeks later I found myself flying solo (for the first time) to Skyros Island where I really had no idea what to expect. That first trip to Skyros really did push me out of my comfort zone more than I could have imagined (you can read about my experience here) I grew in confidence and opened my eyes to a type of holiday I’d never realized existed. Now on my third trip to the stunning Atsitsa Bay I’m used to #HutLife, the overland transfer and demos but still like to push myself out of my comfort zone a bit.

Abseiling

This year my zone pushing thing was abseiling with Bernie Woodward. Bernie’s aura just fills you with confidence, like it’s the most natural thing in the world to be backing bum-first over a cliff. The abseils available in Atsitsa are plentiful, being an ex iron ore mine there’s lots to explore. My favourite of the adventures involved kayaking to a tiny island just outside of the bay, my relationship tested as the only two people in the double kayak with echoes behind me of ‘Remember New Zealand? Why are we sharing!?’ – apparently I’m a bit uncoordinated for successful double-kayaking. I digress, the abseiling group grounded the kayaks on the rocky edges of the island, helping one another pull them up above the water line. We climbed to the top – sharp rocks underfoot adding an element of danger and excitement. As we reached the peak Bernie set up the equipment and gave us our instructions: “Abseil down to the bottom of the overhang, then bend your knees, push out and let the rope through your hands, abseil down the rope straight into the sea and swim back round for another go”. Simple. The adrenaline pumped, Jo exclaimed this to be the best course on offer then bravely went first. My turn came and it was the most fun I’ve had for ages – what a rush!

Art

For my other course I chose the much more relaxing Open Art Studio with Sarah Desmarais and reconnected with my lifelong love of painting. The calming nature of the course complimented my otherwise action packed days. This is exactly what I love about Atsitsa – in one day you can take part in new experiences or rediscover a love you had forgotten about, even if you’ve been before.

Lottie works at Skyros HQ on the Isle of Wight as Marketing and Customer Service Advisor, she can be contacted on marketing@skyros.com or on 01983 865566

If you would like to know more about Atsitsa Bay click here >>>

We also run learning holidays on Skyros Island at The Skyros Centre, find out more here >>>

Skyros HQ is based in The Grange By The Sea where we run short weekend courses and a year-round B&B for details click here >>>