The Joy of Being a Beginner

There is something wonderfully freeing about being on vacation.

Maybe it’s because nobody knows us well enough to notice when we have absolutely no idea what we’re doing! Vacation is the perfect time to try something new. To take that little leap outside our comfort zone and give ourselves permission to be beginners.

Want to try paddle boarding or surfing? Go for it! Never danced salsa before? Put on those dancing shoes! Curious about a cooking class, a new language, snorkeling, zip lining, pottery, or even figuring out the local bus system without accidentally ending up in another town? Well, what’s a vacation without a little adventure?

I’ve learned that being a beginner can be good for the soul.

We spend so much of our everyday lives trying to be competent, efficient and “good” at things. But travel reminds us that it’s perfectly okay to wobble, stumble, laugh at ourselves and try again. Sometimes the best memories come from the things we weren’t very good at.

Trying something new also demands us to be more present. Suddenly, we aren’t thinking about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow. We’re paying attention. We’re listening. We’re watching. We’re feeling. We’re fully in the moment.

So on your next vacation, I encourage you to try one thing you’ve never done before. Be curious, be brave, be willing to look a little silly and most importantly, don’t worry about being good at it.

You’re on vacation, enjoy yourself!

Memories are built in discovering that we were capable of something new. So go ahead, be a beginner. You might just discover a new side of yourself and fall in love with yourself all over again. You deserve it!

Yours taking risks, Ms. Mindful Traveller