I Don't Play Monopoly...

I was reminded of that tonight on The Peavine Trail (of all places, sometimes in the rain, sharing an umbrella) while on my evening 4 miles with a favorite person of mine.

We were in a discussion about many of life's challenges...and out popped,

"I don't play Monopoly"

and he stopped.

In his tracks...
just staring at me.

"Well, I don't. My mother refused to teach me because she claims everyone always ends up arguing and in a bad mood afterwards"

Then again, I really don't know how that would differ from most things my family did...

And then I started thinking about all the other things I don't do:

• I can't ride a bike very well (my dad was teaching me and let go of the bike and I fell...I thought it was horrible of him to do that, and I didn't really feel like trying again. I did win a mountain bike in college, and a friend of mine taught me how...it still scares me a bit)
  
• I've never kayaked (I did do a 2 person outrigger canoe on my honeymoon...not a good experience though...we didn't work well as a team most of the time)
• I've never gone rock climbing...and it was only recently that I realized that I felt comfortable hopping around on rocks, and hiking around...and that I'm good at it.
• I don't like to ski (although, I've tried both downhill and cross country...I don't find it fun, put me in a cabin in the snow with a good book and some cocoa, and I'm there)
• I've never backpacked anywhere (unless you count Italy...mostly that was me in the rain tromping around lost trying to find my hotel...but, I just loved it, and I've always wanted to backpack somewhere)
• I've never shot a gun.
• I've never hang glided or gone up in a hot air balloon (I'm a little nervous around heights, although, I love to fly in a plane)

I'm sure there's even more...

But, why concentrate on the things I don't do, when there's so many things I do actually do.

For some reason, I never thought of myself as an adventurous person...probably because I was scared out of my mind to do anything for a lot of my life. Then...a few years ago, I decided that I would try to do new things...even if I was scared:

• I took and Italian class and went to Italy (planned and booked the entire itinerary all by myself...it was my dream trip)
  
• Got a divorce.
• Tried a whole bunch of slides at a water park (I don't know what was scarier there...the slides, or having to get in a bathing suit and go out in public)
  
• Learned how to knit (and yes, I do plan on finishing my winter scarf before it gets cold again)
• Started sewing again...made my first quilt, a lot of gifts, and quite a few bags that I sold in the shop.
• Started making ephemera cards and art...selling those in my shop now too!
• Hopping around on a bunch of rocks...and hiking more and more regularly.
• Trying desperately to eat the right foods and exercise for only the reason of my health.

Because somewhere in the back of my mind, I realize that life is too short to be holding myself back from anything I want to try...and besides, if I do try something and I don't like it, I'll never have to do it again right?

And who knows?

Maybe I'll even learn to play Monopoly...

(What are you holding yourself back from trying?)