“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth.” – Abraham Maslow

DO THE THING.

I love learning new things. It’s such fun to challenge myself to stretch my knowledge and skillset beyond what it was in the past. That is, I love learning recipes that are fairly similar to the ones I already know. I love planting seeds that are riffs on what I already know will work where I live. And so on. It’s familiar, predictable, comfortable. Comfort is key. New, but still old; challenging, but not too challenging. Don’t ask too much of me. I like what I like.

The tendency to stick with what I know is fine….unless I actually want to grow, as a cook, as a writer, as a spouse, as a parent, and as a person. If I do, in fact, want to grow, I have to actually become more, become better, increase in wisdom, increase in compassion, expand my understanding, deepen my comprehension, learn new ways, experience new perspectives. I have to exceed my boundaries, and move beyond what I have been previously in order to reach new levels and get closer to life goals I can reach no other way. Much like climbing a flight of stairs, only our continued forward motion by taking additional steps will carry us toward, literal, new heights.

I have a secret weapon against too much personal stagnation. Possibly it’s a character flaw. I can’t do the same old thing indefinitely, because I simply get bored. I actually enjoy trying new things and finding lessons and skills that become part of future me. Maybe you will as well.

Last year, I decided I wanted to learn how to crochet. So, I started talking about crochet, and looking at pictures of crochet projects, and looking at yarn, ad infinitum… I absolutely fell in love with crochet. I’m eager to try knitting at some point in the near future, and maybe weaving down the road. I have decided that I will never stop being a beginner, because I will keep trying new things.

I have a similar experience with other things I’ve enjoyed in life, such as music and singing. As a child I had lessons in both piano and violin…..which I did not successfully continue. I currently own no instruments other than my voice. Maybe one day I will pick up my bow, or pull up a bench, yet again and begin anew with lessons.

My encouragement for you is simply this: DO THE THING.

Talk to the person. Explore that new interest. Join that group. Check out the book. Start that conversation. Ask the question. Do the thing. We all have at least one scary “it”. For me, a big one was writing and posting in this blog again after more than 3 years. I began it with shaking hands and tears in my eyes. Writing is something that I have always yearned for and avoided in equal amounts.

Sometimes, in order for new growth to begin, old things have to be pruned, like the dead and unproductive parts of a plant. It’s work. It takes some thought to know where to begin. For the plant, I’m sure there would be more than a little discomfort. Bit by bit, there is space, and health, and a clearer understanding of future goals. Eventually there will be new growth, blossoms, and in time the wonderful fruit.

DO THE THING.

You can only grow as a person, after all. 🙂

In the meantime, there is always my fear of weekly karaoke night to conquer…