I've been a creature of habit for almost my entire life. We all think "oh I love having new experiences and trying new things" but do we really? I've come to realize that I walk different than I talk! Always going to the same places, ordering the same things, following the same routine. If you think about it- that's what adulthood is all about, right? You get up, get ready, go to work, eat dinner, go to bed and repeat. Sometimes, this is a great thing. We all need some structure and organization in our daily lives. Consistency and routine is important, it fosters discipline and gets things done. On the flip side, it can also become boring as hell if you're not careful!
As I brushed my teeth tonight, I was reflecting on my day which TBH was kind of shitty. It's just been one of those weeks where I'm feeling down and out. I kept thinking that I needed to do something to snap out of it-- something to feel better. What makes me feel better? Watching a movie I love, eating my favorite pizza, etc. Comforting habits. Then I thought-- well, sometimes new and exciting things help too. Things like going on a road trip or treating yourself to something you wouldn't normally buy. I realized my daily habits bring me comfort but trying new things brings excitement and makes me feel alive.
I wouldn't have realized any of this if I hadn't actually started branching out from my same old same old. And before we jump the gun here, I'll be the first to admit that my version of "branching out" is wading through the kiddie pool with floaties on. Old habits die hard but the point is I jumped in the pool! Or maybe I was pushed ;) I also get by with a little help from JJ (my boyfriend). If he read this, he would call BS and say I never want to go anywhere new, LOL. While that's not entirely true, I'm more resistant when it comes to food. I'm picky AF and he is wide open. While I'm still traumatized from some of the restaurants we went to when we first started dating, I have to give him a lot of credit for getting me to try new places. The great thing is that you also get a better idea of what you actually like + don't. Some of those are places I never would have gone that we now love + frequent all the time. The irony of that isn't lost on me either! There is definitely a ying + yang relationship between the two and they balance each other out.
I think a lot of our resistance to trying and doing new things come from fear of the unknown or the outcome. I relate to that on another level with the food-- why chance not liking what I order when I know my go-to will be delicious? On the flip side, the feeling of discovering something new that you love is amazing!! It brings a fresh, new excitement to life that helps balance out the mundane of the day-to-day. It's really in the little things too. We recently took a weekend trip away to somewhere new which was amazing, however with busy schedules that's not something that we can do all the time. Finding variety in the normal, everyday things is a breath of fresh air and necessary to keeping things fun. I also learn more about myself so continuing to branch out is a must + I encourage you to do it too! It feels uncomfortable sometimes but I usually find I'm grateful for it later on.
What's something you've always wanted to try but haven't?
