Followers

Time is a great teacher....

but unfortunately it kills all its pupils ... - Louis Hector Berlioz. As time passes and certain things have left my life and others that I expected to come into my life, haven't, I have found it necessary to find and try new things in order to keep life interesting and to continue to strive to improve myself. One of the best things about trying something new is when you find that you really like it. So here are some new things I've tried and my feelings on them.

Just over 3 weeks ago I started guitar lessons for the first time. I calculated it and I've had my guitar for over 22 years and I'm just now learning how to play it. But better late then never right? I've tried picking it up several times over the past 22 years and just haven't been able to stick with it so I did wonder if I would enjoy it and want to continue to do lessons. But good news! I LOVE it. At least right now I'm have a lot of fun. Part of that I'm sure has to do with my teacher - it isn't always a good idea to take lessons from a friend but in this case it has been a good experience and lessons are always interesting, fun and I learn things! But my favorite part is being able to practice - I enjoy being able to see progress even if it is small. And right now things are coming pretty easy because I do know SOME things about music. And the tips of my fingers on my left hand are getting some nice callouses...LOL

Something else I'm really enjoying that isn't quite as new but I still consider new is my road bike. Last October I bit the bullet and spent a bit of money on a road bike. One of the best investments EVER. I didn't get a lot of time to ride it before it got to cold but since we've had such a mild end of winter and spring I've been able to do quite a few 15-20 mile rides around various areas. And it is quite the thrill to be able to cruise down the road or down a hill at 40 miles an hour on the bike or kill a big hill that you would never have been able to ride up with a regular bike without going into cardiac arrest.

However, I've come to realize something the more I ride my bike. I don't have "road rage" in my car, I get it on my bike and that isn't a safe time to have it! Since I have a road bike, I of course ride on the side of the road, which I have to point out, I am legally allowed to do. And did you know that as a motorist it is illegal to ride closer than 3 feet to a moving cyclist? Now sometimes I recognize the road isn't wide enough for the car not to drive a little closer to me than I would like. I understand that is a risk I take riding on the road. But when I get mad is when a car that has plenty of room on their left side, drives as close as possible to the white line and in turn to me!! And that is when my "bike rage" comes out and I want to yell and wave my fist at them. Given that I am courteous as a rider and follow the law it would be least others can do to do the same! But since everyone follows the laws of the road SO WELL I guess I shouldn't expect anything else. I just need to remember that my bike can't take on someone's car :)

The last thing I wanted to share that I've tried is a ste aerobics class. It has been a couple of months now but when a class at the gym wasn't quite what I wanted anymore I let an acquaintance talk me into trying out the step class held at the same time. I must admit I've been pleasantly surprised how much I actually enjoy it. I must admit my stereotype was that step was for old ladies as I fondly remember my mom's Jane Fonda aerobics tapes. Step aerobics also make me think of the eighties and while I was born in the eighties there are some things about that time period I just can't appreciate.

I did find out though that step is like learning a new language!! You know the feeling when someone speaks and says the first word and you are so busy trying to translate that you miss everything else they say afterwards. Step sometimes feels alot like that. I guess I shouldn't have expected to know this, but I didn't know that all the steps and things have names. And of course given that I hadn't ever been to a step class I had no idea what the ham curl, figure 8 or soldier step was supposed to look like. After a couple of months I still sometimes feel lost and if a move involves switching the position of your feet or spinning around, I just throw my hands up in the air.

But overall it has been FUN and a great workout. And I now feel like I speak a second language.

So before time kills YOU off what have you been doing fun or new lately?
Category: 2 comments

2 comments:

Alisa said...

You are amazing Cherilee! Thanks for inspiring me with your attitude of finding new adventures in life.

Marcindra LaPriel said...

Hurrah for learning new things!

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