Try Something New

Today I tried something new. This is big news because in my day-to-day life, if I'm honest with myself, there's not too much new stuff going on. But today was different and it felt exhilarating to do something that I've never done before.

Friends of ours bought a Stand Up Paddleboard (yes, it has an acronym: SUP) a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the 11+ft board did not fit up the stairs or elevator to their apartment, so they've been storing it in our backyard. Today, all of us went to White Rock beach to go "SUPing." The couple who own the SUP are pretty good at it (he's a surfer so it comes naturally), but my husband and I had never tried it before. So Steve goes out first and has a hard time staying upright on the board. It looks really shaky and slippery, and not all that stable.

Then it was my turn. I felt apprehensive because I don't naturally have great balance and I really didn't want to get wet and if Steve had a hard time, I would have an even harder time. Anyhow, I get a 3-minute tutorial on how to keep my balance and am advised to start by kneeling on the board. So out I go, knowing that I would last exactly 17 seconds on this board and then end up dragging it back to shore.

Well, I started on my knees and did OK. "Hmm," I thought, "I can do this. I'll just stay on my knees." So I'm paddling on my knees for a while, and then I think, "What the heck, I'll try to stand up." Then, to my surprise, I stay standing. So now I'm standing and paddling (this is what you are supposed to do) and I'm feeling mildly confident. I do end up falling in eventually, but I had a really good run at it. After taking my dip in the Pacific Ocean, I climb back on the board and continue to paddle up and down the beach. I'm actually gone for quite a while so that Steve comes the shore to check on me, gives me a wave, and heads back to the kids and the beach blanket.


No, this isn't me -- just some random online image. But this is what I'd like to think I looked like (minus the sun visor and rainbow, of course!).

Anyhow, it felt really good to overcome my reluctance and try something new today. As we get older, it's not often that we challenge ourselves and I was really surprised to find that I was good at something new. But I think that even if I wasn't good at it, I would have been proud of myself for taking up the opportunity to have new experience. Today reminded me that it's a big world out there and sometimes we get too comfortable with what we know and do.

When was the last time you tried something new?