Trying Something Completely New — Maybe It’s Time to Surprise Yourself

Trying Something Completely New

Maybe It’s Time to Surprise Yourself

When was the last time you did something you never imagined yourself doing?

Not something you've been meaning to get around to.

Something that makes you think:

Me? Do that?

Maybe it's taking a dance class when you've always insisted you have two left feet.

Traveling somewhere by yourself.

Learning to paint.

Trying kayaking.

Getting onstage.

Taking a cooking class.

Joining a hiking group.

Learning a new language.

Going to a concert alone.

Or finally figuring out what all those buttons on your phone actually do.

Trying something completely new can feel exciting.

It can also feel uncomfortable, awkward and occasionally ridiculous.

That's part of what makes it worthwhile.

We Get Very Good at Knowing Who We Are

By the time you reach 60, you've had decades to build a picture of yourself.

You know what you like.

You know what you're good at.

You know what you're absolutely convinced you would never do.

That's useful.

But sometimes those definitions become fences.

I'm not artistic.

I'm not athletic.

I'm not good with technology.

I don't travel alone.

I'm too shy for that.

Maybe those things were true once.

Maybe they're still true.

But maybe nobody has checked lately.

You Are Allowed to Change

One of the advantages of getting older is that you've already lived through several versions of yourself.

Think about who you were at 20.

Then 30.

Then 40.

Then 50.

You weren't exactly the same person at every stage.

Why would that suddenly stop now?

You can develop new interests.

Change your mind.

Discover something you're unexpectedly good at.

Decide something you've always loved doesn't interest you anymore.

There is no rule saying that at 60, 70 or 80 you must remain exactly who you've always been.

Being a Beginner Can Feel Strange

There's one little problem with trying something new:

You probably won't know what you're doing.

After decades of experience, being a beginner again can feel surprisingly uncomfortable.

You may be used to being the person who knows the answer.

Then suddenly you're standing in a pottery class wondering why everyone else's bowl looks like a bowl while yours appears to be experiencing a structural emergency.

That's okay.

Being new at something isn't embarrassing.

It means you're learning.

You Don't Have to Be Naturally Talented

We sometimes decide too quickly that we're "not good" at something.

Of course you're not good at it.

You've done it twice.

Nobody expects to sit at a piano for the first time and immediately begin performing at Carnegie Hall.

Except perhaps the person sitting at the piano.

Give yourself permission to be average.

Or bad.

Or hilariously bad.

You can still enjoy it.

Start With "I've Always Wondered..."

Think about the things you've quietly wondered about over the years.

I've always wondered what it would be like to...

Ride in a hot-air balloon.

Take an art class.

Travel alone.

Learn to play guitar.

Write a story.

Try yoga.

Go camping.

Learn to dance.

Volunteer at an animal shelter.

Take a train trip.

Grow vegetables.

Learn another language.

Don't immediately follow the thought with all the reasons you can't.

Stay with the first part.

I've always wondered...

That's where curiosity lives.

Make the First Step Very Small

Trying something new doesn't require changing your entire life.

You don't have to book a three-week solo trip through Europe because you're curious about traveling alone.

Start with lunch somewhere you've never been.

Then a day trip.

Then maybe one night away.

Interested in painting?

Buy a small beginner set or take one class.

Interested in hiking?

Start with an easy local trail.

Interested in volunteering?

Try one shift.

Small experiments give you information without requiring a major commitment.

Do Something Alone

This one can be surprisingly powerful.

Many people avoid activities because they don't have someone to go with them.

If that's you, try doing one small thing alone.

Go to a movie.

Have lunch at a restaurant.

Visit a museum.

Attend a lecture.

Take a class.

Walk through a festival.

The first few minutes may feel strange.

Then you may discover something important:

You don't always need someone else to give you permission to enjoy your own life.

And going alone doesn't mean being lonely.

Sometimes it simply means being independent.

Do Something With Other People

On the other hand, maybe the new thing you need isn't the activity.

Maybe it's walking into a room full of people you don't know.

Join a group.

Take a class.

Attend a community event.

Volunteer.

Try a walking club.

Go to trivia night.

Sign up for a local workshop.

You don't have to become the most social person in the room.

Just show up.

A surprising number of friendships begin because two people happened to sit next to each other.

Try Something That Makes You Move

Movement doesn't have to mean exercise equipment and counting repetitions.

Try dancing.

Swimming.

Gardening.

Walking trails.

Pickleball.

Tai chi.

Water aerobics.

Golf.

Yoga.

Cycling.

Choose something appropriate for your health and abilities, and ask your healthcare professional when you're unsure whether a new physical activity is safe for you.

You don't need to prove anything.

The goal is to discover what your body can do—not punish it for what it can't.

Try Something Creative

Many people say:

"I'm just not creative."

Usually what they mean is:

"I don't think I'm very good at making art."

Those aren't the same thing.

Creativity can be cooking, decorating, gardening, photography, woodworking, writing, sewing, music, restoring furniture or arranging flowers.

You don't need to call yourself an artist.

Just make something.

Learn Something That Intimidates You

Sometimes the most satisfying new experiences are the ones that make you a little nervous.

Technology is a good example.

Maybe you've avoided certain things because you don't want to look foolish.

Take the class anyway.

Ask the question.

Push the button.

Learn how to use the app.

Everyone who knows how to do something once didn't know how to do it.

Yes, even the 14-year-old who just sighed while explaining your phone.

Stop Worrying About Looking Silly

This may be one of the greatest freedoms available after 60.

You can care a little less about looking cool.

Wear the hat.

Dance badly.

Sing loudly.

Ask the obvious question.

Take the beginner class.

Try the ridiculous-looking exercise.

Laugh at yourself.

You have already spent enough of your life worrying about what other people might think.

Most of them aren't thinking about you anyway.

They're busy wondering what you're thinking about them.

Don't Let Other People Define "Age Appropriate"

Someone may say:

"At your age?"

That's their limitation.

It doesn't automatically have to become yours.

Of course, safety matters. Bodies change, health conditions matter, and some activities may need to be adapted.

But age appropriate shouldn't automatically mean quiet, predictable and sitting down.

If something interests you and you can do it safely, you're allowed to explore it.

You Don't Need to Put It on Social Media

Not every new experience needs an audience.

You don't need photographs proving you did it.

You don't need likes.

You don't need to announce your reinvention.

Some things can simply belong to you.

That can make them even better.

What If You Hate It?

Excellent.

Now you know.

You tried salsa dancing and hated it.

You went camping and discovered that nature is much nicer when viewed through a hotel window.

You took a painting class and realized you'd rather buy the painting.

That's not failure.

You learned something about yourself.

Cross it off the list and try something else.

What If You Love It?

That's where things get interesting.

One small decision can introduce you to new people, new places and a completely unexpected part of yourself.

Maybe the class becomes a hobby.

The hobby becomes a group of friends.

The day trip becomes a love of travel.

The volunteer shift becomes something you look forward to every week.

You don't know where a new experience might lead.

That's the point.

Make Yourself a "Never Done That" List

Write down five things you've never done but might be willing to try.

They don't have to be dramatic.

For example:

• Eat at a restaurant you've never tried.

• Attend a local class or event.

• Visit somewhere nearby you've never explored.

• Learn one new skill.

• Do one activity you've always assumed wasn't "you."

Then choose one.

Give yourself a reasonable deadline and try it.

Not because it will change your life.

Not because it will make you healthier, smarter or more productive.

Try it because you're curious.

There Are Still First Times Ahead

We tend to associate first experiences with being young.

First job.

First home.

First trip.

First love.

But nobody says firsts have to stop.

There can still be a first solo trip.

A first painting.

A first dance lesson.

A first volunteer role.

A first concert.

A first new friend.

A first time saying yes to something you would have turned down ten years ago.

You already know who you've been.

There's something exciting about discovering who else you might be.

So every once in a while, do something that makes you say:

I can't believe I actually did that.

You might surprise the people around you.

Better yet—

you might surprise yourself.

The World U — Helping people over 60 live smarter, safer, and more confidently.