Getting Uncomfortable Week 2: Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever Played “Never Have I Ever”

Though I’ve never played the game, my life seems to be a series of decisions to reduce the list of “never have I ever” things in my life in case I do get invited to play. While week one of purposely uncomfortable was a lot about physical discomfort in the name of health, week two has focused on trying new things in the name of growth and momentum.

Love Is Garlic Naan And Moonwalks

Recently, eating at my favorite local Indian restaurant for lunch, I smiled at the fact I have a hard time finding anyone to eat there with me. Maybe it’s the “we have boneless goat” sign in the entrance. Or, it’s the fear of the unknown and whatever spicy stereotypes permeate about Indian cuisine for those Midwesterners who consider ranch and ketchup the pinnacle of flavor.

I love going there. It reminds me of my trips to India, which were a big stretch for me at first. More than anywhere I’ve been, India is an immersion experience very different from my normal, and my life is so much richer for it.

My neighborhood restaurant owner makes me feel like my mom is making me lunch and fussing over me, and the chaat, samosas and chicken tikka masala are amazing. I also love the aloo gobi, which sounds so exotic, but is basically just cauliflower and potatoes. Also, nothing can fix a mood like warm, garlic naan.

How can you not be inspired at a place where this is on the wall:

“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

It can be intimidating to visit a new country and learn a new cuisine, but doing new things can be so rewarding. I was happy for the reminder this week as I looked for ways to get uncomfortable. Maybe I’ll have to try the boneless goat one of these days. Maybe.

Yes! Let’s.

I spent the week identifying things I want to try and also tried some new things.

New to my “Never Have I Ever” list this week, I’m considering:

• Rowing on a body of water
• Leveling up in Spanish and learning Italian
• Figuring out how to reduce the laugh lines around my mouth
• Gluing on shiny heart sparkles near my eyeshadow

I also checked some things off the list.

Never Have I Ever before last week:

• Finished the book Lessons of Chemistry and messaged the author with a meaningful exchange because this book was all that.
• Cold-called a CEO of a company I’m interested in and asked the CEO to have coffee at his store
• Brainstormed writing ideas to pitch to my favorite publications
• Only ordered a side salad for dinner (with ranch, of course)
• Considered a new business idea with an old friend
• Agreed to a new haircut and style called “90s blowout” in a decade not starting with nine. I didn’t really have it nailed the first time around, so I’m giving it another go.

Never Had I Ever Been To New York City

I did some reflection this week on times I hadn’t ever but found a way to. A few years ago, after many years of global travel, NYC was on my bucket list. I’d crossed off six of seven continents before going to the biggest city in my own country.

I’ll be honest. As a small-town Iowa girl, we were taught to fear NYC. Because we’d never heard of half the places I’d traveled for work, I had few pre-conceived fears of going. But as a kid in the 80s, NYC was a very dangerous place. Just looking at the subway led to your murder. So, because never had I ever, I found a reason to go.

I registered for a finance class at Columbia that fit my continuing education need. I reserved a hotel in Times Square, flew in a day early to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, tour the 9/11 memorial and visit Central Park. I rode the subway from my hotel to Columbia near Harlem, and I had a great few days. I made it to 5th Avenue, Washington Park, Soho and 30 Rock before heading back home. I crammed in as much as I could in class and sightseeing, although I retained more from the sightseeing. The most memorable part of the class, other than being on campus, was sitting next to the CFO of Peloton and convincing him, “Yes, people in Iowa exercise and will like Peloton. You should come.” I’m happy to report Peloton has been in our mall for years now.

Never Have I Ever Been Here Right Now

“What’s next is right now.” — Haley Stomp

I wrote this quote in my journal this week. For me it means exactly what it says — what’s next is right now. There’s no more reflecting, retreating, resting, preparing, agonizing, recovering, analyzing. This metaphorical baby is due (settle down, Karen, it’s only metaphorical). Right now is the time for the next part of whatever is happening in my life.

I love the hero’s journey storyline. There comes a point when the hero has gone through the cycle from the known to the unknown world and is about to come full circle back to the known world after transforming. Right before reentering the known world, the hero is given a gift to take back to the known world and has more to offer upon returning home. I’m no Brad Pitt returning home in Legends Of The Fall (let’s just pause on this memory for a second), but I come bearing the gifts of experience and growth from the last three years. I’m back to the known and ready to start the cycle again. Never have I ever been right here, but I’m ready to see what I can make happen this week.

‍