Try Something New - University of Valley Forge

Try Something New

Try Something New

The year is drawing to a close, and as we’re all letting out that end-of-the-holidays sigh of contentment, thoughts are surely turning towards the new season of life ahead. “New year, new you” – isn’t that how it always goes? But resolutions quickly peter out. Gym memberships are expensive, after all. This year, why not take a different approach to that “New You” you’ve been looking forward to? Instead of the same old goals about health and accomplishment that year after year you’ve forgotten by February, broaden your life by filling it with something new.

Trying something new is a little scary. New – what a threatening word! But focus on the word try and let your fears melt away. You don’t have to commit to the things you decide to try. You can drop something you don’t like as quickly as you picked it up – which means you won’t feel bad when your resolutions don’t hold up. The whole point is that when you try something new, you just might like it!

Half of the the things I love to do, I only ever started because of an experiment I began years ago. I try something new on Thursdays – Every. Single. Thursday. Some things, like cup stacking and rap music, just weren’t for me and I never touched them again. Other things, like juggling and origami – things that have begun to define a big part of who I am – all originate from the effort I make to try new things on a regular basis. Whether I like something or not, whether I incorporate it into my life or not, I benefit each time I try something new.

When you try new things, you learn about yourself, you learn about the world, and you learn about other people. Your tries don’t have to be serious or life changing. I once walked backwards for two hours and spoke with a British accent for a whole day. Of course, you don’t have to go so far as trying something new every week; just make an effort to break your routine every once in a while. You never know – you may find a new and beautiful way to look at the world. When it comes down to it, the fullness of your life is up to you. Everything can stay the same, or your life could become so much more. Use your imagination and welcome the new year with a truly new you. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.

Need some ideas? Try:

  • A new style of music
  • Food you’ve never tasted before
  • A developable skill
  • A film or book that’s not your usual genre
  • Slang from a different decade (a groovy choice)
  • A change in your daily schedule

 

Written by Olivia Gordon