Carpool Goddess

Adventures From Carpool To Empty Nest

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Published Work
    • My Books
  • Writer’s Life
    • Reading List
  • Parenting
  • College
    • Empty Nest
  • Midlife
  • Contact Me

There’s A First Time For Everything

There haven’t been many times I’ve come in first place. In fact, I’m pretty sure my older siblings let me win at our backyard relay races and the millions of times we played Go Fish.

But other firsts are equally exciting.

In fact our childhoods and young adult lives are brimming with “first times” and the thrill of discovery.

Your first day of school. Your first crush. Your first real kiss. The birth of your first child. The list goes on and on.

And then there are first’s you try to forget.

Like the first time I tried sushi.

It was my first (and only) date with this super-cute new guy and I visibly struggled not to gag with each bite of raw fish. (So much for trying to look sophisticated.)

But how many people can say – after 40 or 50, or even 60 – that they’re still able to experience something for first time? Or maybe, if you’re a parent like me, you get to experience the joy of firsts through the eyes of your children.

As we get older how many firsts do we still get?

After all these years, you might think haven’t we done it all by now?

To my surprise and delight my life has been full of “firsts” since I started writing.

The first time I got paid for writing, published in a bucket list publication, won an award for writing, went to graduate school, and had my first essay published in a book (I’m now on my fifth!) – was a thrill like no other.

Not your mother's book on being a mom

Tip: Don’t try doing a selfie while jumping for joy.

Call me an excitement junky – but once you’ve felt the electrifying buzz of trying something new surging through your body, you want it again and again.

As much as I’m a creature of habit and buck at change, I thrive on newness. As much as I just want to lay on the couch and watch Netflix, reaching for something beyond my grasp is what makes me feel alive.

Almost every one of these new experiences happened because I pushed myself to go outside my comfort zone. (That’s where all the good stuff seems to happen.)

So I try to find something new to try, taste or experience every day. Not every “first” will be life changing or maybe even good.

But I’m determined to live a life that excites and energizes me.

Even if it’s a just a new nail polish, new lipstick or new coffee shop. Or simply taking a new route to get somewhere I go on a daily basis. Or pushing myself to talk to someone or speak out in class – things that normally make the introvert in me queasy.

Big ‘firsts’ don’t happen everyday, so I’ll take my thrills where I can get them.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Midlife musings

Comments

  1. Carla says

    April 10, 2017 at 6:33 am

    I love this. I ran away last week with a friend and experienced a couple of firsts. It was perfect timing for me because, As you say, the first have been dwindling recently.
    I decided while we were together I need to preplan a yearly first experience. So if nothing else I have that one to which to look forward.

    Reply
  2. Diane says

    April 10, 2017 at 6:45 am

    Just got back from my first time to Switzerland.
    I’ve never lived in this minute before. This second. Every day we have firsts, don’t we. If we just recognize them!
    Love this post!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    April 10, 2017 at 6:59 am

    Thanks for sharing! I try to push myself out of my comfort zone every now & then. Perhaps I should start doing it more often!

    Reply
  4. Haralee says

    April 10, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Amen! Firsts do not have to be huge or dramatic. I have not had a sewing lesson in 50 years and am taking some now so I chalk that as a first too. As an adult!

    Reply
  5. Janice | MostlyBlogging says

    April 16, 2017 at 8:26 am

    Hi!
    I’m a “midlifer” and I still feel I have a lot of firsts. My husband and I travel to new places often.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Linda Wolff

Stay Connected

Get Me in Your Inbox!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Places You Will Find Me

featured writing

I’m In These Books

Looking For Something?

Top Posts

  • 10 Things That Smell Good
    10 Things That Smell Good
  • Tell Me About Yourself: Take My Fun Survey
    Tell Me About Yourself: Take My Fun Survey
  • 6 Things I Would Tell My 20-Year-Old Self
    6 Things I Would Tell My 20-Year-Old Self
  • How I Met My Husband: When Love Is Meant To Be
    How I Met My Husband: When Love Is Meant To Be
  • Great Tips And Resources For Publishing Personal Essays
    Great Tips And Resources For Publishing Personal Essays
  • 5 Truths And One Lie
    5 Truths And One Lie

carpoolgoddess

Mom, writer, purveyor of unsolicited advice. No longer driving carpool, still driving my kids crazy. L.A.Times,Wash Post,Cosmo,Good Housekeeping,AARP

Thrilled for this piece to finally see the light o Thrilled for this piece to finally see the light of day on @thegirlfriendletter. And a hearty thanks to @profwendywood, author of Good Habits, Bad Habits, for her words of wisdom. I wrote this back in February, before Covid threw us all a curveball. One thing that I realized is that whether or not we’re in quarantine, many of our basic human traits remain the same. Once a perfectionist, always a perfectionist...until I learned that that mindset was actually holding me back. Love to hear your thoughts. Link in bio. #goodhabitsbadhabits #perfectionisoverrated #selfcaretips #breakbadhabits #lessstress
So excited to start this book! It’s been hard to So excited to start this book! It’s been hard to tear my eyes away from the news to read for pleasure, but it’s a necessity. My favorite time to read is in the morning when I first wake up, when I’m still cozy in bed. How about you? #untamed #glennondoyle #readingforpleasure #readinginbed #readingwomen
When your Mahj game needs a fourth, you do what yo When your Mahj game needs a fourth, you do what you gotta do. #mahjong #mahj #learningfromthebest #alwayswelcome #dogsofinstagram
So thankful for every little bit of normalcy I can So thankful for every little bit of normalcy I can get. Playing Mahj with my mahjagals is one of my most favorite things to do. Plus, it’s so good for the brain! (Click on the link in my bio to read about my love affair with the game and what it’s done for my life). Thanks @caritk for the fabulous Mahj goodies! #mahjong #playitsafe #betterwithfriends #letsplay #mahjongtiles #loveofthegame
Feeling groovy. #weekendbaby #sandals #animalprint Feeling groovy. #weekendbaby #sandals #animalprints #stillsummer #cheers @mystiquesandals
Hiding a multitude of sins. #incognito #whodis #un Hiding a multitude of sins. #incognito #whodis #underwraps #pandemiclife #lifeisgood
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

Categories

Follow Me Everywhere

Get Me in Your Inbox!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Popular Posts

  • 10 Things That Smell Good
  • Tell Me About Yourself: Take My Fun Survey
  • 6 Things I Would Tell My 20-Year-Old Self
  • How I Met My Husband: When Love Is Meant To Be
  • Great Tips And Resources For Publishing Personal Essays
  • 5 Truths And One Lie

Copyright © 2021 Carpool Goddess. All rights reserved.