Trying Something New...
How often do we get round, or indeed have the time to get round, to trying something genuinely new? Try and think back to the last time that you did something you had never done before? For me, the opportunity arose this week and whilst my initial reaction was one of staying in my comfort zone, I ended up trying something that I think I can safely say took me both metaphorically and literally out of my comfort zone. Yoga. Now this may not be a big deal to you, indeed you may be a black belt in Yoga (I am not fully conversant with all the terms yet) but as a mid-fifties, six feet tall, 90 kg male who has never got anywhere close to touching his toes, this was a big deal and a long way away from my comfort zone.
The opportunity arose after a throwaway comment from someone I had met for the first time earlier in the week. I had certainly never considered Yoga and truth be told, had no idea what it was about. My normal reaction would have been to politely decline, but for reasons of curiosity and the luxury of having some free time, I though “why not”. Less that 24 hours later and I was looking down at my toes, apparently being a downward-dog. The class lasted an exhausting 30 minutes, during which time I lost my balance at least 5 times, demonstrated my complete lack of flexibility and fell about laughing like a four year old. It was brilliant, I was certainly not.
I don't mention this because I think you should try Yoga (although I would thoroughly recommend it!) but simply because a chance encounter and an unusually open mind (for me) led to a new experience, which led to a second and third session and who knows where that will lead? (Insert your own joke about chiropractors). Many of us go through life and either never notice, or choose to ignore, the opportunities to try something new that come along all the time. The hobbies of a friend, the activities being run near where you live, the event being promoted in the local free newspaper. We make the excuse that it's either ‘not for us’ or that we are ‘too busy’. Sometimes that is true, but all the time? When was the last time you tried something new?
It is often said that life becomes a series of ever decreasing circle, but that need not be the case. Neither does widening your outlook and experiences have to cost a lot of money, if any,what is does cost is an open mind, some time and the word “yes”. I doubt I will ever learn to hold a Plank for more than 3 seconds let alone master a Cobra. I certainly don't expect to be able to touch my toes any time soon. But I might just carry on trying to learn a little more about the activity become a better Yogarer, or whatever they are called?
So next time someone says ‘would you like to try…’ or you come across a taster session for XYZ in your local town hall, why not give it a go? The worst that will happen is you waste a small amount of time. Why not expose yourself to the risk of enjoying something new?! Before the end of next month, whenever that happens to be, set yourself the goal of trying a new thing. Don’t decide what that thing is yet, just see what comes along. Open your eyes and ears to the opportunities that life puts our way and create some time to respond to them. It really might be that simple.
The opportunity arose after a throwaway comment from someone I had met for the first time earlier in the week. I had certainly never considered Yoga and truth be told, had no idea what it was about. My normal reaction would have been to politely decline, but for reasons of curiosity and the luxury of having some free time, I though “why not”. Less that 24 hours later and I was looking down at my toes, apparently being a downward-dog. The class lasted an exhausting 30 minutes, during which time I lost my balance at least 5 times, demonstrated my complete lack of flexibility and fell about laughing like a four year old. It was brilliant, I was certainly not.
I don't mention this because I think you should try Yoga (although I would thoroughly recommend it!) but simply because a chance encounter and an unusually open mind (for me) led to a new experience, which led to a second and third session and who knows where that will lead? (Insert your own joke about chiropractors). Many of us go through life and either never notice, or choose to ignore, the opportunities to try something new that come along all the time. The hobbies of a friend, the activities being run near where you live, the event being promoted in the local free newspaper. We make the excuse that it's either ‘not for us’ or that we are ‘too busy’. Sometimes that is true, but all the time? When was the last time you tried something new?
It is often said that life becomes a series of ever decreasing circle, but that need not be the case. Neither does widening your outlook and experiences have to cost a lot of money, if any,what is does cost is an open mind, some time and the word “yes”. I doubt I will ever learn to hold a Plank for more than 3 seconds let alone master a Cobra. I certainly don't expect to be able to touch my toes any time soon. But I might just carry on trying to learn a little more about the activity become a better Yogarer, or whatever they are called?
So next time someone says ‘would you like to try…’ or you come across a taster session for XYZ in your local town hall, why not give it a go? The worst that will happen is you waste a small amount of time. Why not expose yourself to the risk of enjoying something new?! Before the end of next month, whenever that happens to be, set yourself the goal of trying a new thing. Don’t decide what that thing is yet, just see what comes along. Open your eyes and ears to the opportunities that life puts our way and create some time to respond to them. It really might be that simple.
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