The University of Vermont
It was 1983 and my dad was driving me to the University of Vermont to begin my freshman year as a college student. Traveling from Connecticut, we had at least 6 hours in the car together, which meant plenty of time for him to share his fatherly wisdom before releasing me to begin my college experience.
Thirty years later I have one clear and distinct memory of the advice he offered me that day. He said ‘try everything once’! Of course I looked at him with a huge grin on my face and said ‘everything’? He didn’t say a word, he just cracked a smile and gently nodded his head.
I’m not so sure I’d be brave enough to offer that same wisdom to my soon to be college freshman son. But I can say I finally get it – I mean really, really get it! My dad was passing onto me his life’s motto, his belief that life can only be fully experienced when we seek out that which is NEW to us. Sometimes it is a simple and inconsequential new thing, while other times it requires taking a risk or facing a fear.
My dad is not one to do the same thing twice. He is constantly in search of a NEW experience – a new restaurant, new vacation place, new music, new weekend activities. He thrives on the thrill he gets from doing something NEW. This probably made it all the more challenging for him to be my father, since I am the complete opposite.
My comfort zone has typically been to seek out the familiar, the constant, the repetitive, the stable, the consistent, the expected. Some habits are meant to be broken. Although I didn’t intentionally set out to break this one, I have recently become addicted to the rush of trying new things.
I can distinguish the moment when my perception of trying new things really shifted. It was January 2012 and I zip lined for the first time – walking away with an exhilaration I hadn’t felt in years. This also opened up a whole conversation about FEAR that I will save for another post (probably multiple posts because its such a big concept).
Zip lining unleashed my desire to really live and experience life to its fullest. This meant being willing to give up my attachment to knowing and controlling the outcome. It meant exposing myself to the unknown at a greater frequency than I preferred. It meant giving up my expectations in exchange for embracing the unexpected. But the result of repeatedly engaging in new experiences gives us the opportunity to learn and grow at an exponential rate!
Here is a brief list of a few NEW things I’ve tried in the recent past: 
- Crossfit
- Tuna Sashimi
- Stand Up paddle board
- Dancing in the grocery store aisle
- 30” box jump
- Chunky blond highlights
- Eating Paleo
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- Sky diving
- Deep purple toe nail polish
- Becoming a blogger
You can test the waters by dipping your toe in or you can say YES and jump, fully clothed into the deep dark waters! Whichever way you choose is perfect – but CHOOSE! Choose to try something new, something unexpected, something that will make you feel like you are living full out!
I can’t wait to hear what NEW things you try and how they make you feel!
with Joy & Gratitude,
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