The Summer Of The ONE NEW THING

The other day I was talking to a friend and we both expressed how easy it is to do the same thing over and over...day after day.  Life unfolds with a certain amount of rhythm and regularity, even if you happen to be an impulsive person who enjoys an occasional last-minute getaway. You still take your clothes to the same dry cleaners and--most of the time--take the most direct way home after a long day of work.  After a bit it's easy to become resigned to staying home (because it's easier) and renting a movie, rather than braving the crowds downtown.

I blame the kids getting older. And..okay...the kids, because when you've spent the majority of your day helping other people live their lives (rather than your own), you find that it's easier to wring whatever spare time you can from the day by taking shortcuts. And those shortcuts add up.

Pretty soon you're making most of your decisions based on what it easier or what takes less time. We think we'll gain something at the end, but I've yet to figure out what it is. I've made an art form out of concocting a TO DO list wherein I group everything based on where I have to go so that I don't have to do any trackbacks across town. Maybe it means I save a few minutes here and there or some gas, but it also means that the wonderful city I live in is mostly a blur to me. I never--and I mean NEVER--stop and go into a new store for the sheer pleasure of seeing what's inside. Yes, I know I hate shopping just for the sake of shopping, but does this mean I'm forbidden from even knowing what's out there or how to find it?

I rarely do anything...you know....just because it sounds like it would be fun, and maybe that's why I've started to feel as though all the juice is gone from my life.  I go to work because I need/want to and because I like making money. I go to the store because we're out of stuff to eat.  The other night Mr. Half suggested we (*gasp!*) just drop everything and see a movie. I found myself trying to think of all the reasons we couldn't. Why do I do this? It's as if I don't know how to do anything anymore unless I HAVE TO DO IT.

So...this friend and I decided we would use the summer to pursue the idea of doing ONE NEW THING. Every week I'm going to make myself do one new thing. Go one new place. Even if it's not really an extraordinary thing or place at all...but because I'm doing it at an usual time...it's going to count.

Turns out...I started on Friday night. I watched my son play a football game. I know, I know...you're tearing out your hair and screaming that I MUST NOT UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF DOING "ONE NEW THING" because watching your kid play a sport is not unusual. I've spent the last (OH-MY-GOD )decade and a half watching my kids do Little League, middle school track, high school wrestling/baseball...and now football. I confess that I didn't want my youngest son to play football. I did quite a bit of fancy talking to keep him from joining at the beginning of his freshman year, though admitting this now will probably cost me my Mother of the Year award. I wanted him to run or continue playing golf...but he enjoys...um...hitting people and football is one of those place where something like that won't get you kicked out of school. Problem is? People get hit back and I don't want to be a witness to it. So I discouraged him...but he ignored my wisdom joined anyway.

And I? Put on my Big Girl Panties and dealt with it. I actually enjoyed it. Mainly because my son is good at football and it makes him happy. So yes, doing something that you don't want to do just because you think you won't like it? Totally counts.

 

He's the guy in the white uniform. (click to enlarge)

Anyway, doing something I didn't want to do made it easier to scrap today's usual  routine of cleaning and organizing and other unpleasantries that crowd my schedule. Mr. Half and I walked over to the university and watched our alma mater's normally awesome baseball team (Texas A&M) lose to Oregon State. Just because we could. It seemed strange to do something that didn't require me to cross it off a list later on. Strange and oddly wonderful. My goal is to do something like this every week. Next week I'm already planning on stopping at this little shop on the circle that makes homemade gingerbread.

Even though I don't really need any.

Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Comments

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

I so hear you on this.

Water Polo lets you hit people without getting kicked out of school too!

[phd in yogurtry]

A little too familliar. Sometimes I won't set out on errands until I have a few stops in that area. It's the ultimate procrastination justification.

I do love the "one new thing" idea. I'd love to try new coffee shops. There are so many cool ones in south Austin.

[J]

I love that you sucked it up and actually enjoyed it.

I'm out of work at the moment, and my life has become VERY daily and mundane. I have time, but no money, to do fun things. So a few weeks ago, we went to a restaurant that had fried chicken, served with biscuits and honey, and the honey was pretty darned amazing. I know! I never thought honey could be amazing. So I asked if there was a place to buy it, and there was, in a neighboring town.

So, on Friday, I went crazy and left the house in the middle of the day to buy some honey in this town I don't regularly frequent, and whilst there, I explored the whole little strip mall, and found an amazing doll store with an amazing collection of Russian nesting dolls and little lacquer boxes. I had a lovely visit with the shopkeeper, and found out that the owner of the shop was in Thailand looking for dolls. Amazing, the things you learn, just by going out that front door, for something outside of the neighborhood Safeway and my daughter's middle school.

[NancyJ]

Alot of times I feel like my life is just passing by with no participation from me. And like phd above, I won't go on errands until I have more than one reason to go to a certain area, or plan the order of my stops.
I was at a bridal shower yesterday, sitting with some old friends. We've promised to get together, even if it's for coffee because everytime we're together we remember how much we enjoy each other's company.
Once school ends, I will try to not think about the lack of a paycheck and focus on enjoying the summer.

[melissaz]

That is a great idea! It will make this summer go by a little better I think. :)

[Cheri @ Blog This Mom!]

Isn't it amazing that when we don't do what we want to do, we get an experience that we need?

I sound like an aging Rolling Stones fan when really I'm mostly just aging.

Lovely post, once again.

[daysgoby]

Brilliant! It's far too easy to sit in the livingroom at night and not go and DO something....ooh. And it's summer. I think it's time to make a list of summer things.....

[Claire]

That's a really good idea; I wish I could stick with something like that but I think my first order of business is to get through all these books I promised myself to read. I guess each one I finish i like one new thing? Right? Eh, maybe not.

[Green Girl in Wisconsin]

We lead very similar lives--I love this idea. One new thing. I may join your movement.

[The Other Laura]

I think this is a great idea. I may steal it...

[Mary]

Just how old is that other football player??? Your son looks happy indeed. Props for letting him do something you really don't want him to do. As for the other thing, it's a great idea. I just don't know that I could do it. And then it would be one more thing I said I was going to start doing that...I didn't. But, I look forward to hearing about all of your new things.

[Janet]

This is a fabulous idea. I'm going to try to do it too. Kids in tow even.
So what you're telling me is DeBoy will want to play football no matter how many other sports he participates in? Great. Just peachy.

[mamatulip]

Brilliant idea. I most likely will steal it from you and apply it to my own life.

[stephanie (bad mom)]

Genius idea, which I will copy for the sanity of our entire family. I am feeling so into a rut, my eyes are constantly half-closed.

Good for you :D

[Nance]

Holy crap, as I was reading the first few paragraphs of your post, I felt the overwhelming sense of guilt and familiarity, for you were describing me completely. It's awful. My big excuse is SCHOOL--I'm so wrung out from wrangling teenagers all day that I come home and drop dead. During the summers, I'm more energized, but I still find myself "relaxing" and "recharging": two different names for "same old same old." I love your challenge (which is what I'm taking it as). Mine begins in TWO DAYS!! Yippee!

[Beth]

One new thing a week, huh? Sounds CRAZY! Must ponder the possibilities.