Do you remember the FEELING of being a kid and playing?

Lately I've had an easier time accessing memories and feelings from my childhood. One of the strongest ones is the feeling of playing in the moment with the toy or the other people simply doing what I DESIRED to do.

There was no check-list of items that had to be done.

There was no clock to be beholden to.

There were no expectations of performance or grades given.

The only roles were the ones we assigned to each other in the game.

The activity was just being ourselves and the primary driver was FUN. If not fun; experiential, curious, novel, intriguing, silly, funny, new. Whatever caught my interest, I followed it.

As adults, we watch kids do this and might feel that pang of jealousy that they're so "free". We forget that adults CAN and SHOULD still follow the fun or interesting.

Just because we're adults doesn't mean novelty is gone. You do not know everything nor have you experienced everything there is to experience! So there is new left for you to experience my friend!

What we lose at some point is the courage to be a beginner and fail or look silly. It takes bravery to do weird things outside the norm too! If your close circle of family or friends doesn't do something that you'd like to do - there is the chance of ridicule or questioning - and most people can't or don't want to deal with that.

And to me, that is very sad. I don't want anyone to be held back by fear of what others may think or say. But it's a reality for many, I know.

Here I am extending an invitation to you to choose the novel. Choose to be a beginner in something that seems interesting to you. Try it! Remember, whatever you choose doesn't have to be forever either. I think that's where many of us get hung up. Just because you start, doesn't mean you have to become a grand master champion in the thing!! What matters is that you followed that spark and started.

On our FB group, HYPE SQUAD, we're hosting the 12 new things challenge: each month try 1 new thing and at the end of 2026, you will have tried 12 new things (or more!). So if you want community of people showing up as beginners, looking like idiots, and having fun while doing it, join us there!

Love you,

Colleen