Yesterday, I saw an interesting diagram. It showed the different zones we move through when we learn a new skill.

I considered my own comfort zone, the first stage of development, when I learn a new skill. I feel happy and secure there. I know I have most of the skills to deal with the things that come my way. I am comfortable there.

Our visitor Nov. 9 was state Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-133rd. She came to read to children at our storytime. For some of us, that might be a step outside of our comfort zone.

To step out of the comfortable place where you feel safe and in control takes courage.

If you’ve ever tried something new and unknown, you will know those feelings of “not being good enough” and “not knowing how to do something.” Those feelings can make you find excuses to shrink back into the place you feel in control.

If you step farther out, however, you will find yourself traveling through the fear zone and into the learning zone. Trying something new and learning how to do it move you on to acquire new skills and deal with the problems and challenges that you find.

At the time of writing, we are looking forward to Nov. 11. The Pennsylvania Classical Ballet Academy will be at the library to showcase the Sugar Plum Fairy. Learning a new skill, especially performing in front of an audience, moves you on through the learning zone until it becomes your comfort zone.

Interestingly, you can then stay where you are, in the place where you feel in control, or you can move out of your comfort zone again and begin to find purpose, conquer objectives and make new goals.

So always step out of your comfort zone, keep learning new skills and live your dreams.

NOVEMBER BOOKS

Fiction: “The Little Liar,” Mitch Albom; “The Edge,” David Baldacci; “Tom Clancy Command and Control,” Marc Cameron; “Resurrection Walk,” Michael Connelly; “Unnatural Death,” Patricia Cornwell; “Clive Cussler, The Corsican Shadow,” Dick Cussler; “The Watchmaker’s Hand,” Jeffery Deaver; “The Spy Coast,” Tess Gerritsen; “Just Once,” Karen Kingsbury; “Robert B. Parker’s Broken Trust,” Mike Lupica; “Sisters Under the Rising Sun,” Heather Morris; “Alex Cross Must Die,” James Patterson; “The Berry Pickers,” Amanda Peters; “The Mystery Guest,” Nita Prose; “Inheritance: The Lost Bride Trilogy 1,” Nora Roberts; “The Ball at Versailles,” Danielle Steel; “Let Us Descend,” Jesmyn Ward

Nonfiction: “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen,” David Brooks; “The Last Outlaws: The Desperate Final Days of the Dalton Gang,” Tom Clavin; “The Longest Minute: The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906,” Matthew J. Davenport; “Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor,” Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.; “Teddy and Booker T.: How Two American Icons Blazed a Path for Racial Equality,” Brian Kilmeade; “Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education,” Stephanie Land; “Behind the Door: The Dark Truths and Untold Stories of the Cecil Hotel,” Amy Price; “Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond,” Henry Winkler

Juvenile: “The Bad Guys in Look Who’s Talking,” Aaron Blabley; “The Last Kids on Earth and the Monster Dimension,” Max Brallier; “Disney Wish: The Deluxe Junior Novelization,” Erin Falligant; “Marvel Super Stories (Book One): All-New Comics From All-Star Cartoonists,” Marvel Entertainment; “Computer Science for Curious Kids,” Chris Oxlade; “Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers,” Dav Pilkey

Young adult: “Nightbane,” Alex Aster; “Check & Mate,” Ali Hazelwood; “Curious Tides,” Pascale Lacelle; “Murtagh: The World of Eragon,” Christopher Paolini

Children’s picture books: “Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year,” Andrea Beaty; “Llama Llama Family Vacation,” Anna Dewdney; “The Littlest Yak and the New Arrival,” Lu Fraser; “Luna Muna Space Cafe,” Kellie Gerardi; “Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain,” Jonathan Graziano; “The Big Cheese,” John Jory; “Disney Wish: The Magic of Dreams,” Kathy McCullough; “Batman’s Amazing Tales!,” Random House