Something New For A Change

As we hurdle towards the end of 2019, heedless of a future that will likely be pretty much what we expect, I’d like to take a moment to ignore all the insanity swarming over the planet right now and focus on a more local experience. By which I mean I’ll write vaguely about a few things I learned and try to make them broadly relatable as you, my friends and neighbors, hopefully feel entertained enough to allow me to do so.
Instead I’m going to spend some time writing about the importance of new things, and how we need them to keep our lives from becoming stagnant, mosquito spawning pools badly in need of skimming. It may not seem like a huge revelation, but consider it a reminder that a routine, while probably necessary, can be stifling if left unchanged or unchallenged. And the really great thing is, there is never any real shortage of new things to try out, even on a tiny scale.
Maybe trying to cook a new dish, or change the way you make an old favorite, very literally spicing things up a bit. Something small like that, which doesn’t require a terribly significant financial or temporal investment, can still throw a little color at you. It’s a relatively small risk, but could end up making your day.
If you’re feeling even more adventurous -or stuck- and are lucky enough to pull it off, you could try a huge change, like moving somewhere new or getting a new job, or in my case, buying a house. This kind of thing is way more of a risk, with a payoff that almost certainly is farther down the horizon. Or more likely will be manifested in smaller ways, little moments of realization that pop into your brain and hopefully make you smile.
Be careful of these changes though, because as anyone who knows me can testify, you will be in danger of talking about it way more than anyone cares to listen. Not necessarily a new thing for me, mind you, but not one I’d advise trying out.
A really scary new thing to try is connecting with a new person. It takes a lot of energy, attention, and vulnerability to pull off that sort of thing, and may just prove disastrous. Though once in a while, if you keep at it, things can work out well and you get yourself a new favorite coworker, or a lifelong friend, or maybe a significant other even. This is the kind of complicated new thing that generally worries people the most, for obvious reasons. It also happens to be the easiest one to avoid: all you have to do is not put yourself out there.
But then you run the risk of getting all scummy and spawning mosquitos, and the last thing the world needs is more blood sucking monsters. You’re far better off getting out there and trying, even though being hurt is somewhat unavoidable.
It’s all a step up from scummy bug water.
There’s a lot of terrifying stuff going on in the world right now, and most of the screens we look at all day place a large emphasis on them, so it’s easy to let your mind be overcome with negative expectations and metaphorical mosquitos. It often feels a far safer option to stay home, lock your doors, and watch old episodes of television for the fourteenth time. Sometimes it’s even necessary, when social batteries get depleted or hearts get busted up. Recovery is important. But it’s just as important to get up and out there again, sooner or later, and see what’s what.
Also, if you do buy a house, it’s not a bad idea to request all housewarming presents be in the form of hardware store gift cards.
-John