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I'm a day late but I finally joined this forum! Hope it still counts. In my defense I just got over being sick with Bronchitis and this is all the energy I have right now.
I'm a day late but I finally joined this forum! Hope it still counts. In my defense I just got over being sick with Bronchitis and this is all the energy I have right now.
Now that you're officially not a lurker, we're hoping to hear more from you. That definitely counts as trying something new. Welcome!
My normal routine incorporates much that is new, much that is not closely scripted. Therefore I am not particularly motivated to seek out something novel in any given week. There just wouldn't be much point, as opportunities for novelty present themselves to me frequently and I am open to them. If none come along this week, that's fine. (It won't be long before some do). However, I think the idea behind this thread can be an excellent one for people who are already aware they need a little nudge in that direction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzsilk
So, what have you done different lately? (last month or so) Something that stretched you beyond your comfort zone?
I am still within my comfort zone when doing something different; stretching beyond my comfort zone would be things like going out in public naked or walking through the heart of skid row at night time. The former would be illegal and the latter would be dangerous to my safety and it should go without saying that I would never do either. So allow me to respond to your question "What have you done different lately?" (without the "comfort zone" part).
In the last month I ran twice in an elementary school jog-a-thon (two different schools) with fifth graders. (Those are fund raising events). At 72 I was the oldest person both times. I ran about mid-pack among the kids (the only other adults being a few of their teachers), so my performance was not impressive but I had fun and I think the kids enjoyed my presence or at least enjoyed the novelty of it.
Speaking of skid row, about five or six months ago I did walk through the heart of the Los Angeles skid row - east Fifth Street - but in the day time. I was with a young man in his 20's visiting from Egypt whom I was leading on a walking tour of Los Angeles. I made him aware of exactly what we were doing and he was game. I had on running shoes and was extremely alert to my surroundings, ready to retreat or flee at a second's notice, but that was never necessary. It was interesting.
Within the last two months I have twice taken a seventh grade student and his two cousins on a Sunday outing, the first time to the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History and the second time to the Battleship USS Iowa. That hardly sounds "different", does it? But in today's climate it is unusual for a school-related adult to take kids places privately. I did so at the request and with the permission of the boy's parents, of course. And there is, as you can imagine, a rather special circumstance behind it all. This boy's younger brother, age 10, has been in the hospital for the past five months awaiting a heart transplant. He cannot leave the hospital until that happens, and it is completely unknown when a suitable heart will become available. So I had reached out to that family, seeking ways to support them. The older brother may be feeling a bit left out, as he cannot visit his brother (doctors worried about flu season) but the parents spend a lot of time there. It is a heart-breaking situation with an unknown final outcome. "Different" anyway (for me) to figure out a way I could contribute something in addition to money.
I am still within my comfort zone when doing something different; stretching beyond my comfort zone would be things like going out in public naked or walking through the heart of skid row at night time. The former would be illegal and the latter would be dangerous to my safety and it should go without saying that I would never do either. So allow me to respond to your question "What have you done different lately?" (without the "comfort zone" part).
In the last month I ran twice in an elementary school jog-a-thon (two different schools) with fifth graders. (Those are fund raising events). At 72 I was the oldest person both times. I ran about mid-pack among the kids (the only other adults being a few of their teachers), so my performance was not impressive but I had fun and I think the kids enjoyed my presence or at least enjoyed the novelty of it.
Speaking of skid row, about five or six months ago I did walk through the heart of the Los Angeles skid row - east Fifth Street - but in the day time. I was with a young man in his 20's visiting from Egypt whom I was leading on a walking tour of Los Angeles. I made him aware of exactly what we were doing and he was game. I had on running shoes and was extremely alert to my surroundings, ready to retreat or flee at a second's notice, but that was never necessary. It was interesting.
Within the last two months I have twice taken a seventh grade student and his two cousins on a Sunday outing, the first time to the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History and the second time to the Battleship USS Iowa. That hardly sounds "different", does it? But in today's climate it is unusual for a school-related adult to take kids places privately. I did so at the request and with the permission of the boy's parents, of course. And there is, as you can imagine, a rather special circumstance behind it all. This boy's younger brother, age 10, has been in the hospital for the past five months awaiting a heart transplant. He cannot leave the hospital until that happens, and it is completely unknown when a suitable heart will become available. So I had reached out to that family, seeking ways to support them. The older brother may be feeling a bit left out, as he cannot visit his brother (doctors worried about flu season) but the parents spend a lot of time there. It is a heart-breaking situation with an unknown final outcome. "Different" anyway (for me) to figure out a way I could contribute something in addition to money.
I love hearing these stories of what folks are doing on the other side of this computer screen. Such interesting, inspiring people. We can talk about retirement homes and social security and such but the stories about people and experiences like this are the "good stuff". Thanks!
I love hearing these stories of what folks are doing on the other side of this computer screen. Such interesting, inspiring people. We can talk about retirement homes and social security and such but the stories about people and experiences like this are the "good stuff". Thanks!
And thank you for the kind words. Since I wrote that post, I was asked at the last minute (three days notice) to be a volunteer judge for History Day Los Angeles at Azusa Pacific University this morning, as they were short of judges. I decided to accept, figuring the worst case would be the loss of a day if I didn't enjoy it.
This was the competition for the entire County of Los Angeles, grades 4 through high school. A certain number of winners will go on to the state competition. I cannot judge the kids I work with, so I was assigned to the high school division, static displays. The theme was "Taking a stand", so kids did projects on people like Sojourner Truth, Ceasar Chavez, Jackie Robinson, etc. I had to fill out a detailed judging sheet on each of seven projects. First I read the student's process report (how they got interested in their topic, how they did the research, etc.) and bibliography and looked at his or her project mounted on large boards (maps, photos, quotes, etc), then the student was sent in to me individually and we discussed the project, then he or she left and I completed the sheet. Of the seven, I had to select the three best, then another judge and I exchanged our three best lists (he had also had seven) and evaluated those three, then that judge and I sat down and chose three (from the six). The other judge was a young guy but we ended up agreeing quickly and completely.
There were garden variety projects and two (of the 14) incredible projects with huge, well-annotated bibliographies on less well known figures; one was an African queen in Angola who had opposed the Portuguese and the other was a Modoc Indian woman (No. Calif./Oregon) who tried to bring peace with the U.S. Army - I had never heard of either. The two students, both girls, had given a nuanced and sophisticated treatment. Really mind-blowing, I thought. More like college work, and GOOD college work at that.
All I had to give up was one morning and I got a free lunch! I just love stuff I haven't done before. It's all within my comfort zone.
Since the OP invoked action, I made a list of all the parks and great walking places in my area with a view to walk one of them each day with my dogs. So far, so good! I am starting to feel the winter laziness and stiffness fade away.
Since the OP invoked action, I made a list of all the parks and great walking places in my area with a view to walk one of them each day with my dogs. So far, so good! I am starting to feel the winter laziness and stiffness fade away.
Sounds good. I want to do that, only with the bicycle trails in our area. Thanks for the idea.
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Now that you're officially not a lurker, we're hoping to hear more from you. That definitely counts as trying something new. Welcome!
