So, this weekend — if all goes according to plan — I’ll be over 4,000 miles away from home, somewhere in the beautiful country of Poland. Yep. Poland. Not the “drive three miles down 224” version I thought at first, but the actual Poland, across the Atlantic.

And no, this isn’t a European family vacation or an “Eat, Pray, Love” journey of self-discovery (although let’s be honest, self-discovery is always part of it). This trip is something else entirely — a wild opportunity that came out of simply showing up and serving my community.

Let me back up. If you know me or are part of Dandelion-Inc, the business I built from scratch for women in business and leadership, you know I’m about showing up, doing the work and building relationships. Community is everything! One of my Dandelion members — someone brilliant in marketing, deeply rooted in her Polish heritage, and connected to both local and international communities — was on a call with someone involved in a leadership initiative for women in Poland. They were looking for someone to teach leadership and civic engagement to women for a few weeks over the summer. And just like that, she said, “I know someone who’d be perfect.” That someone was me.

When she reached out, she said (or at least how I recall the conversation), “Lisa, you were literally the first person I thought of. What you do with Dandelion-Inc, how you speak to women in business, how you lead… it’s exactly what they’re looking for.” Naturally, I said I was 1,000% interested. Of course, I assumed this meant I’d be heading a few towns over. Later that night, sitting next to my husband on the couch, I clicked the link she sent and muttered, “Holy shit. She meant Poland Poland.”

Cue the wave of nerves.

Fourteen hours of travel. Twenty days away from my family.

Me, alone, making international connections and boarding flights and navigating customs — without my usual sidekick (aka my very supportive husband). It all felt huge and terrifying. But also… thrilling.

I told myself what I tell the women I work with: “You don’t know unless you try.”

So I filled out the application. And to be honest, that pesky imposter syndrome comforted me in a weird way. I thought there had to be dozens, maybe hundreds, of other applicants with more credentials, more experience, more connections. I even thought, I’m not even Polish!

But then I started to hope. I reached out to the committee. I followed up. I let them know how much this meant to me. And one day, I got the email: You’re in. Are you still interested?

YES. Yes, I am.

And now, as you read this, I’m hopefully on Polish soil, jet lagged, slightly overwhelmed, but also glowing with gratitude.

To say this is out of my comfort zone is an understatement. I’ve been missing my boys, my husband, my friends, and yes, of course my dog, for weeks — before I even left. I’m a nervous flyer, and the idea of connecting flights and solo customs makes my stomach flip. But this opportunity? It’s worth every flutter of anxiety. I’ve been working on overdrive getting all the things within my control done to keep my business thriving while overseas.

Someone once told me I’ve had “opportunities handed to me.” Here’s what I say to that: nothing has been handed to me. Typically, this is the case for most people. Besides we all know the saying “what’s been given can be taken away.” I have worked relentlessly — through doubt, through failure, through heartbreak — to earn every door that’s opened. And behind some of those doors was someone who was willing and confident enough within themselves to whisper my name in a room I wasn’t in.

This time, that someone was Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer, founder of Marquee Creatives. Aundrea, thank you for saying my name out loud and making this moment possible. Your faith in me is part of the reason I’m standing on new soil today.

To all of you back home reading this — take the leap. Say yes to the scary things. Show up in the rooms you want to be in. And when you get the chance, say someone else’s name, too.

From me to you.

Mother, author, entrepreneur and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.