When was the last time you did something you’ve never done before or are not very good at?
As kids, trying new things was our full-time job. As adults, we gravitate to things we know how to do and focus on getting increasingly good at them. We’re rarely rewarded for seeking out the utter awkwardness and discomfort of being a rookie, and when we do, we’re surprised by how terrible we are at the new thing. We’ve lost the ‘muscle memory’ of what it feels like to learn something brand new.
(My grandson Remy is two and is learning to ice skate. When he first stepped on the ice in his new skates, I think he was shocked not to be able to zoom around like the hockey players on TV!)
The good news is that we rarely try something that is 100% new to us. There are usually familiar bits, and it helps our nervous system calm down when we remember that we can rely on skills from other settings to help us in this new one.
I’m in the soup of that this week, as I’m writing this from my first-ever coaching retreat in Costa Rica. There have been some big feelings about it, especially as I anticipated this trip for months in advance. Now that we’re here, the emotions are shifting but are still very mixed—I’ve never done anything like this before, and much of what happens is out of my control. I really want people to love it. I keep remembering that nervousness and excitement can feel the same in our bodies. I also remind myself that I know how to travel. I know how to facilitate. I love Costa Rica. These lovely folks are willing to experience this fabulous experiment along with me. So here we go!!
And day one was terrific. Lots of laughs and learning and beauty. And way too much time on a bus.
It’s always a mix, isn’t it?
What could you step into as a beginner this week? When you do, it’ll be great. And hard. And that’s life, truly. Live it!
PS—If you’re wishing you had joined us on this adventure, I have another exciting opportunity to share with you. In late September 2026 I’ll be cohosting a five-night retreat in the south of France with strategic storyteller Lisa Gerber. Hit pause on your busy life, slow down and focus on reimagining the next chapter of your story. More details to come, but if you’d like to be the first to learn more about this experience, join the waitlist.