Week #354 – Learn Something New!
Greetings Tribe — and Happy Friday!
Last year, Covid closed a lot of doors for many of us…but it for sure opened some others. Tennis is one example! Naturally socially distant and safely outdoors…tennis (like golf) saw an uptick in participation last year.
And my partner James was no exception to the trend!
With gyms and martial arts studios closed, Jim quickly turned his energy and attention from Cross-fit and Krav…to tennis. As a teen, he always wanted to play tennis but was pushed into football instead. Needless to say, his interest in sports waned quickly and it took years (decades really) for him to find his way back to his athletic self!
So on his birthday last year, I gave him the gift of a tennis lesson. Rackets, shoes, and cans of tennis balls followed (cans and cans of tennis balls!).
He was hooked!
Flash forward to this year…and he is entering his first tournament! On his birthday! What a great way to celebrate how far he’s come this first year — and reaffirms that it’s never to late to ignite an old flame, renew a passion, or do that thing you always wanted to do!
Which reminds me of this post from Week #47 from 2015:
I couldn’t help but notice this sign outside of our local surf shop. This was the shop that started it all for us! About a decade ago — OG Surf & Skate used to be called OG Surf Shop. That is where I took my first surf lesson, bought my first wetsuit, and my first and only surfboard! It wasn’t too long after that my brother Rob wanted to give it a try…and, like most things he attempted, he picked it up annoyingly quickly and easily! Soon he had his own wetsuit, his own board, and his very own hobby that he loved so much!
Surfing is a tricky sport. It takes place on an unpredictable, moody, and moving surface. Much has been written about The Wave…but one thing is for sure: you cannot control it. It doesn’t stop, or wait, or even play nice sometimes. Without question — YOU must adapt to it. And if you take the time to learn and cooperate just a bit — you just might get to experience the absolute thrill of standing up and riding a wave in for the first time!
I never would have gotten there on my own. I needed someone to teach me.
And I’m so glad I did!
We think nothing of sending kids off for all kinds of lessons: swim, cooking, acting, dance, karate, band, and yes — even surf lessons! Why do we do this? To increase their learning curve? To learn good habits? And with surf or swim — to possibly save their lives? Why then, as adults, do we try to do everything ourselves? Why is it hard for us to humble ourselves to the expertise of another — all for the sake of learning, expediting, enjoying, and yes — possibly even saving our lives?
The best experiences I’ve had as an adult have been learning something new. I took a ski lesson a DECADE after I first went skiing — to UN-learn bad habits and learn the “right” way! I took a motorcycle class to learn how to properly (and hopefully safely) ride a motorcycle. My sister and I treated my mom to a group golf lesson one year — and had a great time learning something new together (and playing a few rounds after that)! And yes, I took surf lesson to not only learn how to surf — but how to fall, because wipeouts are inevitable!
I know a 20-something who takes piano, a 40-something who learned to swim, a 60+ year old who learned to play the trumpet, and an 80-something that will happily teach you how to knit!
I’ve used mentors, coaches, and webinars to learn — and try — something new. I even used a tutorial to start this very blog! You are never too old to learn something new — in fact, learning might be the very thing that keeps you young!
Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead: Learn something new! Learn to surf, to cook, to play tennis, paddleboard, yoga, skeet shoot, whatever! Whether it’s been something you’ve been doing for years — or something you want to try just now. Give yourself the gift of experience and take a lesson! Two things will happen — you’ll either realize the thing you’ve been wanting to do isn’t quite for you; or you’ll realize it is and have a whole new hobby to keep you busy! Either way is just as important — to eliminate options opens you up for something else; to nurture and grow a budding interest opens you up to a something new!
Take a lesson! (Or give one!) You can’t stop the wave — but you can learn to surf!
Spread Happyness — and share your thoughts in the comments! What would you like to learn (or teach)?!
6/25/21 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com