Only One First Time

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Has it been a while? If so, what's holding you back? What's keeping you from trying something new? 

In retirement it's easy to get stuck in the same patterns and routines. When this happens, you become bored, and you becoming boring—even to yourself! The solution is to always be learning and pursuing new challenges. Don't settle for an "easy" retirement.

I know that the first time you try something different, it can be scary, daunting, and intimidating. You don't know what to expect. You might fail. It's safer to keep things as they are—status quo. Except that there's no status in status quo.

I recently experienced a "first time" when I went to a hot yoga class. (Yoga exercises performed in a room with high heat and humidity.) My favorite yoga instructor, Tara, teaches the class and she has been encouraging me to give it a try. Week after week I had excuses as to why I didn't go. Then this past Monday morning, with the temperature at -6 degrees F, I decided there isn't going to be a better day to try hot yoga.

I got dressed and drove 20 minutes to the studio. I had a general idea where it was located based on Tara's directions, but the studio wasn't as easy to find as I had hoped. Once I found it, I parked my car too far away because I didn't see any parking spots in front of the storefront. I went to the front door, only to find a sign that said entrance and parking in back. The sidewalks were icy and it was frigid cold outside. By this time I was going to be late. I was getting frustrated.

All this effort just to take a class that I wasn't sure I would enjoy. It would have been easier to give up and drive back home. But then I thought, "There's only one first time."

The class turned out to be a new learning experience. I'm glad that I went. I no longer need to fear hot yoga. And the next time I go, I'll know to park in the back of the studio. I'll know to bring a towel because the idea of hot yoga is to get hot, and sweaty. I'll know what to expect in the class. In fact, I'll know enough that I can tell another person what to expect for her first time.

If it has been a while since you did something new, I encourage you to go for it. As challenging as it may be...

You only have to experience a first time, one time.

 Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins All Rights Reserved