Catching My Breath

I feel the need to 'recap'...(okay, yes...'recap' may actually mean 'brag' in this case)...

Three 'New Things' in THREE DAYS!

• July 27: Harley Ride
• July 28: Drumming Debut
• July 29: Autocross Ride-a-long

I love this.

And Two of the Three New Things were 'Helmet Required.' I could have made it three for three and worn a helmet for the drum performance but I decided to take my chances....live on the edge.
Or in the spirit of what someone told me just recently "Safety Third!"

I am absolutely thrilled with how things have started. A great kick-off. Things happening faster than I could blog. Who knew?

But enough of that. Time to proceed.

Looking ahead to New Thing #4 and Beyond, it feels important to mention that I know I can't keep up this pace. Not the frequency. Not the adrenaline.

Nor would I want to.

"So Barbie, what's the next crazy thing you're doing?"
"NEW thing!" I correct them soundly. "Not necessarily 'crazy.' New. New thing."
You people are way too eager to risk my life and limbs.

'NEW' is my only criteria. Okay, well not my only criteria. I also need the Thing to 'speak' to me. On one level or another, it needs to be a good match for my heart, my spirit, my energy, my future.

The first three things were all on a similar frequency for me.
Exciting, invigorating, adrenaline-inducing.

And of course, I need New Things that test my courage and imagination, Things considered risky or unusual. But I also need New Things that will potentially nourish my soul. Peaceful, introspective and enlightening Things.

For example:
'Homebody' that I am, traveling to a foreign country would test my courage.
Where as perhaps, learning to knit might nourish my soul. I won't know until I try.

I'm telling you this for two reasons:

1. Because New Thing #4 is a gentler and sweeter Thing. Risk and courage were not the point. (Details to follow in next post.)
2. AND because I seek your help. Your thoughts and suggestions. Even volunteers. 

The list of 50 New Things is fluid. I have a good healthy list started but I want to be open to ideas beyond my own.
I also want to, need to, be open to all levels of New Things:

• Big-ass, scary things (sky diving), 
• Unusual "Is that a real thing?" things (Trike Flying), 
• Less Obvious things.

I want all suggestions, but I especially covet your ideas for the Less Obvious.
(My #4 Thing falls into this category.)

For instance....
let's say I'd never learned to use chopsticks or drive a stick shift.
Say I'd never picked up a hitchhiker or bought lunch for the car behind me at the drive up window.
Slurped down a raw oyster or slugged down an Irish Car Bomb.
Now I have done each of these things prior to My 50 New ones, but these are perfect examples of Less Obvious suggestions.

(Thanks to Jackie for the car bomb thing!!)

I've come up with a few...

• I've never had a Jello shot. (I can't count how many people have volunteered to 'help' me with this one.)
• I've never 'tagged' a building, a bridge, a fence, Any thing.
• I've never made homemade ice cream.
• I've never created a YouTube video.
• I've never played a round of golf. 

...and these specific New Things may show up in the coming year.....or not. We will see. But I need more of this type of things. They might not be New to you, but may be New for me. We won't know unless you speak up. Please be thinking. In other words.....Help! You can 'Comment' your suggestions here, email me or tell me directly. I need your suggestions from both ends of the universe.



Post Script:
It is my goal to keep this 50 New Things adventure as Rule-free as possible. At the same time, there are two things that I intend to hold myself to....as much as I can.

• I will try to keep from 'lumping' multiple New things into one event. 
• For instance, if I play my first round of golf, do a Jello shot at each hole, tag the golf cart with graffiti and put the whole thing on YouTube.....that is NOT 4 New Things. Feels like 'cheating.'   
• I will also try not to 'create' a New Thing on a technicality. 
• For instance, say I'd never been to the Museum of Glass but I've been to all kinds of other museums in my lifetime. Going to a different type of museum doesn't really count. It won't feel like I'm really honoring my intent to reach beyond my previous experience or my comfort zone. Now if I travel to Liverpool to visit a Beatles Museum? Totally counts!