Tenley wandered the streets. She listened to the speeches, thoughts running through her head about the things she had heard long after the conversations died down. Her mind was a fog until she nearly tripped over a box carelessly left in the street. She kicked the box and for a moment a scream welled up inside her and she let her rage out.

"Get the fuck out! Just go already!"

Pressing a hand to her mouth in shock that she allowed that moment of rage to consume her. She felt embarrassed and took a quick look around. There were eyes on her and in that moment she saw an opportunity. She'd turn this into a positive since people were staring. Couldn't get any worse, could it? She brushed the sweat that covered her palms onto her pants and eyed the people around her. She knew knew at that moment this was one of *those* moments. The words pouring out as if she were prepared for a speech even though she hadn't given it a second thought until this moment.

"My apologies. Since you are all stood staring at me I may as well take this opportunity to spark a discussion. How much do you rely on your comfort zone? How often do you take that time to step out of it?"

She paused momentarily and looked directly at each person. Tenley was giving them time to really consider the questions.

"My ancestors have been around for a little bit. When they first found this community they would never consider coming out here into the streets unless it was absolutely mandatory. They were not comfortable at all speaking. At some point an ancestor of mine decided they would learn and try their hand at street speaking. They became a little more adventurous in their journeys and little by little each ancestor got a little bit better and here we are. I will not say I have mastered it or am perfect at it but it's a journey of stepping out of the comfort zone. It's about learning from what your fore bearers passed down the generations and applying it where you can.

My ancestors, they stuck to a small group of friends. They would wait for their friends to become leaders and remain under the shelter of working for the people they knew and trusted only. Eventually a few of my braver ancestors branched out into people they had never worked for or even spoken to. Again, another step out of the comfort zone. One that allowed me to stand before you today, confident in my ability, and ask for your opinion on this matter

So my question is do you like your comfort zone? Do you believe that you can grow as an individual without stepping out of it? I can honestly say that I push myself to keep trying to get out of my own comfort zones because I strongly believe that I cannot grow without doing so. I cannot learn if I am constantly surrounded by what I already know. If I do not learn then my sons and daughters cannot grow into the better person they should be"

Romance holds Tenley's face in his hand..... touching her softly... gently stroking her delicate cheeks with the back of his fingers, the hair from his knuckles tickling her.  He looks deep into her eyes.... becoming lost in their beauty.........................................................................

"Those that don't step out of their comfort zones rarely reach any real level success, in this world or any others.  There are many ways people can step our of their comfort zones beyond aligning themselves with people they are unfamiliar with.  Sometimes just coming out to the streets is outside of people's comfort zones, much like your own ancestors once did.  Those that take chances, take risks with uncertainty..... those are the people that reach great heights.  I myself believe stepping out of that comfort keeps things fresh, however to answer your question I am fond of the comfort zone I am in presently.  I am among friends and familiar people.  Not all comfort zones are bad.  Right now, I would like for you and I to make each other comfortable.........."

Romance allows his hands to drop from her face slowly.... a single tear falls from his cheek as his emotions are overwhelmed by her beauty....  he continues to gaze into her eyes as his hands continue their way to her blouse... undoing the top button.....

The second button.....

The third...

Greeting Tenley with a familiar and courteous nod, Tammy steps out to offer a response to the young woman. 

"Best thing to consider is how ya' perform while in your comfort zone. Typically it is where you excel since it becomes your daily grind.

"Dependent on what your comfort zone encompasses though will determine if there is room to increase it. You'll rarely find an individual who is all-knowin' and equip to manage any situation thrown their way. Everyone has room ta' improve or experience somethin' different. 

"Many people have said ta' me that they see the streets as an intimidatin' and exposin' place. They will lurk from the shadows rather than risk sayin' somethin' out of place for fear of ridicule. Which is fine, if you're comfortable in what you do then stay there, but nobody ever mastered that which they did 'nah practice. 

"When it comes to the streets, the majority of us who walk them frequently will encourage and support newer faces tryin' their hand at voicin' an opinion or challengin' an action, as we wish to see this place grow. 

"But that's just one example of the many aspects of this life we could break off into and widen our circles around. I believe Godfather Disorder had made a recent appearance on the streets which offers an opportunity to do just that, too."

King was walking by a couple of ladies and some guy touching Tenley's face heard a voice talking about comfort zones and thought to himself that he had just got out of comfort zone today and decided to speak

"Thats a bit of an odd question really, who doesn't like their comfort zone? if you didn't like your comfort zone could you honestly call it a comfort zone?"

King pauses for a moment thinking about the next question 

"Of course you can always be better even if it is in a small form, you can always improve whether it be in drug trafficking talking with your friends, busting someone out of jail, talking on the streets, so so many things you can do to improve in what you already know in"

KingDemon pauses a moment taking a swig out of his flask feeling the tingle of whiskey down his throat he clears it and then goes on

"I do feel to grow as a mobster you need to get out of your comfort zone every now and then, i am out of my comfort zone as we speak, i do not fear the streets or being ridiculed, if anything i take it as a good laugh or constructive criticism, but Romance had a great point, stepping out of your comfort zone keeps things fresh, i have only started speaking out in the streets today and it is making the streets become a lot easier to me as i walk around and hearing peoples thoughts and opinions."

After KingDemon as finished saying he walks away while saying

"And remember The bold will always be rewarded, in this life or the next" 

As Tenley listened to Romance she got a bit uncomfortable with his gestures. Feeling a great relief as she saw a friendly face she moved to stand closer to Tabitha. As each person spoke, Tenley listened and mulled over her own thoughts.

You all make very valid points. There are many ways people step out of their comfort zones, the streets is just an easier example of such. Do you find more people stick within those zones thinking they are the best things without realizing there is more to our community? Always something more to improve upon or plan?

KingDemon realized he was walking in the wrong direction and that where he needed to go was back past the people he was just talking to, he hears Tenley asking more questions he thinks about them for a moment

"i really need to lay off the alcohol for a little while no idea where im going these days, i can only speak for my bloodline as i have never asked anyone their viewpoint on that matter, in my bloodlines first beginning on these shores i was caught in my ways of the daily grind without ever really visiting the streets unless it was to protect my crew leader as he/she gave a speech, at the time i didn't know much about the streets or why anyone ever came to them, because back then i did notice a descent bit of ridicule from a few toxic people, but their was a lot of people encouraging me to come out here and give it a go, i have to thank them for that"

He pauses to take a swig from his flask taking a sigh as it woken him up a bit

"A lot of people i have met are always planning something, whether it be a truck heist, robbery, or even a business venture they are thinking of doing, in my journals i have had countless people ask me how they could improve on multiple different things, i think more people are set in their ways of doing things, but genuinely want to improve in their comfort zone."

Nodding, Gato considers the question for a moment before responding. 

"I think that may well be a possibility, so many people are just accustomed to doin' that which 'dey know, not even accommodatin' the idea that there could be more to tha' life. 

"Then there are those tha' just do what they know they're good at, comfortable as it were, in that. I would seize any opportunity where someone has expressed interest in bein' more though, without a doubt."

My ancestors have done different things.  Some spoke in the streets and some didn't.  A good deal of the time, they would not tell anyone who they were until they were established.  My ancestors got to know a lot of different people that way, and learned how to behave in such a way that they were submerged in themselves.  Most recently I came out and participated in something none of my ancestors ever would have done.  I thought it turned out very well.