{"id":585,"date":"2015-08-07T06:50:50","date_gmt":"2015-08-07T10:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/?p=585"},"modified":"2015-08-07T00:29:08","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T04:29:08","slug":"week-47-summer-fun-challenge-lessons-available-learn-to-_______","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/?p=585","title":{"rendered":"Week #47 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Lessons Available!” (Learn to _______!)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"OG<\/a>

Outside OG Surf & Skate (Ocean Grove, NJ)<\/p><\/div>\n

Week #47 – Summer Fun Challenge: \u201cLessons Available!” \u00a0(Learn to ________________!)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and\u00a0welcome to week EIGHT of our Summer Fun Challenge!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help but notice this sign outside of our local surf shop. \u00a0This was the shop that started it all for us! \u00a0About a decade ago\u00a0— OG Surf & Skate used to be called OG Surf Shop. \u00a0That is where I took my first surf lesson, bought my first wetsuit, and my first and only surfboard! \u00a0It wasn’t too long after that\u00a0Rob wanted to give it a try…and, like most things he attempted, he picked it up\u00a0annoyingly quickly and easily! \u00a0Soon\u00a0he had his own wetsuit, his own board, and his very own hobby that he loved so much!<\/p>\n

Surfing is a tricky sport. \u00a0It takes place on an unpredictable, moody, and moving surface. \u00a0Much has been written about The Wave\u2026but one thing is for sure: you cannot control it. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t stop, or wait, or even play nice sometimes. \u00a0Without question — YOU must adapt to it. \u00a0And 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!<\/p>\n

I never would have gotten there on my own. \u00a0I needed someone to teach me.<\/p>\n

And I’m so glad I did!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We think nothing of sending kids off for all kinds of lessons: swim, cooking, acting, dance, karate, band, and yes — even surf lessons! \u00a0Why do we do this? \u00a0To increase their learning curve? \u00a0To learn good habits? \u00a0<\/span>And with surf or swim — to possibly save their lives? \u00a0Why then, as adults, do we try to do everything ourselves? \u00a0Why 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?<\/p>\n

The best experiences I\u2019ve had as an adult have been learning something new. \u00a0I took a ski lesson a DECADE after I first went skiing\u00a0— to UN-learn bad habits and learn the \u201cright\u201d way! \u00a0I took a motorcycle class to learn how to properly (and hopefully safely) ride a motorcycle. \u00a0<\/span>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)! \u00a0And yes, I took surf lesson to not only learn how to surf — but how to fall, because wipeouts are inevitable!<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve used mentors, coaches, and webinars to learn — and try — something new. \u00a0I even used a tutorial to start this very blog! \u00a0You are never too old to learn something new — in fact, learning might be the very thing that keeps you young!<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s assignment: TAKE A LESSON!<\/strong> \u00a0Learn to surf, to cook, to play tennis, paddleboard, yoga, skeet shoot, whatever! \u00a0Whether it\u2019s been something you\u2019ve been doing for years — or something you want to try just now. \u00a0Give yourself the gift of experience and take a lesson! \u00a0Two things will happen — you\u2019ll either realize the thing you\u2019ve been wanting to do isn\u2019t quite for you; or you\u2019ll realize it is and have a whole new hobby to keep you busy! \u00a0Either way is just as important — to eliminate options opens you up for something else; to nurture and grow a budding interest\u00a0opens you up to a something new!<\/p>\n

Take a lesson! \u00a0(Or give one!) \u00a0You can’t\u00a0stop the wave — but you can learn to\u00a0surf!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spread Happyness — and share your thoughts in the comments! \u00a0What would you like to learn (or teach)?!<\/p>\n

8\/7\/15 by Grace Church
\n<\/em>\u00a9 Grace Church<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

PS: FOUR\u00a0WEEKS TO GO<\/span>! \u00a0Our FUN LIST is still growing — keep ’em coming!!!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

– “One Tank Trips”
\n– Surprise trip for spouse or loved one
\n– Kayaking
\n– Beach time
\n– BBQ’s
\n– Tourist for the day in nearby city
\n– Walking the boards
\n– Rock climbing
\n– Scuba diving
\n– Touring an estate
\n– Time with family
\n– Sitting on the porch
\n– Watching for rainbows
\n– Learning to surf
\n– Gardening
\n– Writing a book
\n– Working on a “summer” project
\n– Moving to a new town
\n– Planning a spa day (or half-day, or even lunch hour)
\n– Taking Fridays (or Mondays) off!
\n– Day at the ballpark (Minor League stadiums are great, too!)
\n– Outside concerts\/music events
\n– Hot air balloon ride\/festival
\n– Pool volleyball (a Church-family classic!)
\n– Take yourself or someone you love for ice cream!
\n<\/span>– Weed your front yard garden (and talk with neighbors and folks walking by!)
\n– Lose yourself in wonderful music, either listening or singing
\n–\u00a0Play in the grassy backyard
\n– Play with your dog (or maybe your neighbor’s dog!)
\n<\/span>– Sing karaoke
\n– Explore your town, county, state\u2026through food and drink!
\n– Visit a farm
\n– Make plans to see friends you don\u2019t often get to see (or schedule a gathering!)
\n– Blind-folded Make-overs! \u00a0(Great for a rainy day! \u00a0Bonus points if you go out in public after!)<\/p>\n

(What are we missing? \u00a0Send me your ideas and I’ll add them to the list!)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week #47 – Summer Fun Challenge: \u201cLessons Available!” \u00a0(Learn to ________________!) Greetings Happyness Tribe — and\u00a0welcome to week EIGHT of our Summer Fun Challenge!\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t help but notice this sign outside of our local surf shop. \u00a0This was the shop that started it all for us! \u00a0About a decade ago\u00a0— OG Surf & Skate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=585"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":595,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585\/revisions\/595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}