Have you ever had a secret interest you’ve ALWAYS wanted to try but didn’t know where or how to start? I did for about 30 years. For me, it was ice hockey. Yup. Ice hockey. I always secretly wanted to try it, but never voiced that wish to anyone. I grew up watching my best friend’s little brother play and would travel with their family for camps/tournaments. I thought it looked so cool, but never saw any girls play and figured it would never happen. Figured I could shoot to own hockey skates one day, but never actually play the game. Where would I learn? Where would I get equipment? I had given on my secret dream of hockey, until I saw a flyer at a local ice rink, while I was waiting for my daughter’s ice-skating lessons to finish. The flyer was for a developmental women’s hockey league, and I thought to myself “That is crazy. I don’t have time for this. I’m too old to try a new sport. Plus, what if I fall? What if I fall HARD?”
Well, I’m proud to say that I ignored the negative self-talk and I emailed the league to give it a try. Here I am about 18 months later, absolutely obsessed with the sport, co-manager on a couple teams, and friends/teammates with an incredible network of women in the league. That one act to try something new and to push my comfort zone, transformed my life and made me reexamine other areas of my life – including starting my professional life. I found the courage to start my own hotel investment company – Jane Hotel Group – something I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t know where to start or what to do about it.
I’ve attached two pictures from my hockey game last week. I fell hard a couple times but got back up and was fine. I love the falling picture, because it reminds me of what was once a major fear is now something I just get up from.
For those of you with that lingering idea in the back of your mind that just won’t go away, I say listen to it and take that first step toward it. I say push your comfort zone, ignore that negative self-talk, and go for it. If you fall, know that you will get back up, and your life will be that much better because of it.
Comments