“Try something every day that scares you.” Someone once said this and it stuck in my brain. I guess this is supposed to make you feel more alive and get you out of any ruts you have been in.
It sounds harder than it is. It doesn’t have to be the big stuff like skydiving or hitchhiking in Harlem, it can be simple. And, honestly, it doesn’t have to be scary as in shit your pants scary. But, “scary” as in taking a risk, stepping out of your comfort zone.
Drive a different route home, talk to someone who intimidates you, buy the generic brand of peanut butter. Sign up for a race that gives you butterflies. The point is to that you continue to experience your life in new and different ways.
The “scary” thing I did yesterday was try a new food. I had heard the band Men at Work sing about this very thing:
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six foot four and full of muscles
I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
It has a very bad reputation. Vegemite. Up until now I honestly thought it was some kind of vegetable spread. With mites in it.
I was at a home visit for my job. The guy I was interviewing was from Australia. He plopped down some toast with dark brown goo on it and pronounced, “Here is some vegemite for you to try, mate. I don’t know anyone who likes it but me.” I asked him what the hell it was. “A paste made from yeast extract.” Basically, the sludge that settles to the bottom when you make beer. It had the uncanny resemblance to the contents of a baby’s diaper.
The whole family stared at me as I took my first bite. It was salty, yeasty, mild. And I loved it. No joke.
Will I go and order cases of vegemite? Probably not. Did it change my life? No. It just added a little something-something to what otherwise was a very routine day.
I have a full day today. Kids are off to school after Sam battled a mean, wicked and messy stomach bug for the last two days. I’m headed to yoga and the grocery store before I finish writing a report, make dinner and then drive to Denver for a home visit. Will there be time to try something that scares me? I’ll probably do yoga in the nude and see what everyone says.
For real, I might use that one bathroom stall I always avoid at the gym. Funny how even the bathroom stall you choose becomes your routine.
What will you try today?
SUAR
