One of my coaches strongly believes in the benefit of trying new things. She challenges herself and her clients to try one new thing each month, and one big thing each year. By learning something new, it keeps us mentally sharp and keeps boredom at bay.
But why it is that we hesitate to do new things? I have a couple of thoughts on this.
First, we can’t do new things when we are not aware of other options available to us. For example, our 15-year-old dog is getting old, slowing down, and has kidney disease. (In dog circles she is known as a ‘cheagle’, but we fondly refer to her as a ‘Chi-beagle-huahua’ – we think that’s cuter, but that’s beside the point.) Her kidney disease is progressing, so she’s on a special diet and has to have supplemental fluids. Earlier this spring, she stopped jumping down off her favorite chair – something hurt and was aggravated from the force of landing on the floor. She was losing interest in going for walks and begging for treats – two of her very favorite activities. If you know beagles, they will eat anything, anytime, anywhere. I asked our vet about possible treatments, and she suggested acupuncture. I’ve known about acupuncture and have never utilized it for myself. But if it would help our dog, it was worth a try. Over the last three weeks, we have seen remarkable change, starting with the first treatment. Not only is there a huge improvement in our dog’s energy and comfort, but we’re learning that acupuncture may also benefit her kidney function and slow the progression of the disease. We quip that Brownie is acting like her 10-year-old self again!
Another reason we hesitate to do new things may be because we know what we like, and we aren’t willing to risk not liking something new. I find this particularly true for me when it comes to food, kind of like Mikey in the Life cereal commercial (“Hey, Mikey! He likes it!”). I know what I like and what I don’t like. For example, if I get a treat at Dairy Queen, it’s always a Butterfinger Blizzard. When I have a sandwich, it’s usually turkey with Swiss cheese, mustard and lettuce. And, while I keep thinking that eggplant ‘sounds’ like a good idea, I can’t eat it, no matter how it’s prepared. Last week, Pete and I had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. We were expecting to order the same things that we always get, but due to COVID, they have changed much of their menu. When I realized that my ‘usual’ wasn't available, to be perfectly honest the first thought in my head was, ‘Oh, let's go somewhere else.’ I was reluctant to try something new. Looking over the menu selections, I thought the Chef’s Choice with lots of vegetables and a yellow curry sauce would be the ‘least risky’ of the options. Guess what? It was truly delicious! Not only am I excited that I tried something new, but I liked it!
So, I have to ask you – when is the last time you tried something new? I’m trying to do something new every month, and would love to hear from you about what you’re doing, too.
