Looking for Pleasant Surprises

I never imagined I would become a hockey fan.  Of all the sports I have been exposed to, hockey was one of the few that just never captured my interest--mostly because I couldn't make sense of it.  Even when I had friends who played in college and I would attend their games to support them, I didn't get it--and I didn't care to put much energy into getting it.  These days, I find myself sacrificing sleep to watch the Bruins in the playoffs, talking with co-workers about last minute wins and griping about terrible calls.  It's surprising---even to me--so I was curious to examine how this happened.

The most obvious thing is that I found a reason to care about hockey.  My significant other really enjoys hockey.  It matters to him and seeing the Bruins play is important to him.  I started watching games with him, doing other things like paying bills or sorting mail or fixing the hem on a skirt, while he cheered and groaned.  Gradually, I understood a bit more of what was happening--he explained, I asked, it all started to come together.  It is also nice to enjoy (or be disappointed by) the game with him.  We get to share an experience when I actually watch and try to understand what's happening, otherwise, we are just two people in the same place--me sewing, him watching hockey.  Taking the former approach allows us to share our responses and to experience excitement or disappointment together--and the chance at having that connection certainly helped to motivate me to care more about hockey.

I have also realized that learning and appreciating something new has its own appeal--especially in this case where I had decided I would never like or understand hockey.  First, there is a sense of accomplishment and even a little pride in understanding something I never thought I would understand.  Second, there is a surprise in liking something I never thought I would enjoy.  It feels like I'm a different person is some ways, and knowing I can grow and change and surprise even myself is reassuring.  Life gets boring when it is too stagnant and even though that is comfortable, I would rather know that some facet of my life or some aspect of how I define myself (not a hockey lover in this case) can change.

Is there something you wish you had, or a connection with a person you wish was stronger, or an interest of your own that you wish was more present.  If so, do something that connects you to that--even if you tried it before and didn't like it.  Want some space in your life? Try meditation.  Have a good friend who loves sushi--go out to her favorite restaurant for dinner.  Have a friend who loves baseball? Watch a game together.  Pick up that novel you put down after 10 pages 2 years ago.  Try rock climbing--again.  Call your mother just to say hi.  Give yourself the permission to still hate whatever it was you just tried.  Give yourself the permission to change your mind and enjoy it.

It is a gift to be surprised by our own lives--and to get that gift, we have to be willing to try something--something new or something we turned away from before.  Not doing that is a sure way to stay who we were yesterday.  It's much more fun to be in the moment--that is where the surprises are--so try it.  Do something now that isn't informed by what used to be.  You might just be pleasantly surprised.