Today I was to take two women canoeing. At least one had never been before, ever. I hadn't been in a canoe since I don't remember when and am not sure if I have ever "put in" in Newton to paddle the Charles River. I vaguely remember something but if it is that long ago I can consider it a semi DO NEW. I do know I have never brought these two women paddling. At any rate the day out was postponed until maybe next week. Catch me quick people. I have been in New England since May 9th and my next big adventure departs in less than 3 weeks. So many people not having the time and then the time is gone. POOF!
Well, the postponement gave me the chance to get my car looked at and to get some other things done in nearby Brockton. While I was stopped at a traffic light I thought about going to the
Fuller Art Museum which was just up the way but frankly I am still fatigued from swollen glands and not up for much walking around. I was thinking what to DO NEW and then I saw it. I mean I really saw it. The entrance to
D.W. FIELD PARK. I knew it was there but never thought much of it. I thought it was just a picnic area near the museum. Of course I put on my right directional blinker and took the turn in.
I had no idea the park was 756 acres mostly of ponds with fish and wild fowl galore. The road brings you all around it with parking areas dispursed throughout and benches to sit and chill out in peace. Geese, swan, ducks, blackbirds, pigeons and more were also chilling out before the late afternoon rain began. Once again a DO NEW practically in my own backyard.
HAPPY ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY.
Now that it has been one month of DO NEWS I thought I would take the opportunity
to clarify some things. I was at lunch yesterday with a client and she
was happily coming up with suggestions for things that I could DO NEW. I
have been sparking her brain synapses into action (for me). "What
about sky diving? Have you been sky diving?" I replied that I had
not. In fact, I was saving that for last. Just in case the cute
doesn't open (or I don't want it to open) it would be a good way to go out.
She hit me. Ha. "And bungee jumping?" Again that is a no for me as I
value my spine at this age. "A helicopter ride?" Oh most definitely. I
posted that at the end of the first DO NEW day UP UP AND AWAY about the
four seater plane experience. The helicopter opportunity will present
itself at the correct time.
Last night on chat to Buenos Aires another friend decided to take up the
challenge but on a weekly basis as her schedule is pretty darn FULL. I
didn't suggest it as she was looking for one of those big things, but
as an avid runner participating in marathons (I seem to have a lot of
runner and adrenal junkie friends) a new running circuit would qualify.
And in a city like Buenos Aires one could enter almost any door off the
streets and avenues and find some NEW TO YOU to experience.
That brings me to this clarification. The DO NEW CHALLENGE is not about
the bizarre or unique or about adrenaline pumping activities, unless
you want it to be. To do that everyday you would burn out from adrenal
exhaustion. NOTE: If you do burn out please feel free to contact me.
My specialties in complementary medicine are chronic pain AND adrenal
problems. But really, I don't want to have to mop you up off the floor
next month.
THE DO NEW CHALLENGE is about getting you to look at your world
differently and open your eyes to what is around you. There are things
to discover in your own town. Sometimes a DO NEW will be big and
sometimes it will be small. People have work and family
responsibilities. Sometimes I just have a half an hour to DO something
NEW between appointments and clients so I take that time and change my
usual path, stop and discover. To quote a previous post ALONG THE
BEATEN TRACK
"So... when you can't readily see anything NEW to DO in a day then just
take a different route. It's new for you and you just might encounter
more NEW DO ideas along the way. Blaze a new trail, explore a new
byway, navigate a new stream, just take the detour. There's potential
magic in the unfamiliar. It is waiting for you to discover it."
I am so happy for the feedback publicly and privately. This is catching
on. People are getting more creative, filling up with ideas and
carrying through. It is self generating once you get started.
A question from one person was "Isn't it hard to come up with things?"
At first it seems that way but then you get into the flow of it and
things find you. You can't help but not notice a door that you have not
walked through. A listing in the paper that you once glanced at and
passed over becomes more interesting and a HEY WHY NOT? YES! I AM
GOING TO DO IT!
Time has a way of passing quickly. I think all of us have said to
ourselves at one time or another I never DO anything. Oh yes you have
in the past and will in the future. You have done plenty in your life
and there is so much more waiting for you. NOW. Make it a habit not
solely an event; TAKE THE CHALLENGE TODAY.
Oh one more thing...Yesterday I was five minutes early to my client appointment at her house so I drove down to the end of her street in the opposite direction. There were three more houses and then it dead-ended. I made the U-turn and saw her coming into the cross street. I pulled into her drive in front of her. She asked, "What were you doing coming from that direction?" I told her I had a little time so thought I would check out what was down there. She told me that the man at the last house has a direct access in front of it that goes right to the hiking trails at ADAM'S FARM but she has never been walking there. UH HUM. She is an avid walker and it is right THERE. How many years has she lived in her house? More than 20. Come on - get with the program. :0)
There - I think I have made up for yesterday's lack of text. ENJOY!
On my way to the house and my bike I passed a HUMAN SANDWICH on the shoulder of the road. OH COME ON. I had to pull out the camera. As I passed I asked, "Just how many dollars per hour are they paying you to do this?"
