For most of
college my recreational activities were: bar-hopping, shopping, and going
online. New Paltz is known for Minnewaska State Park, Shawangunk Ridge, Mohonk
Mountains, and other beautiful places. In the spring students would hike
through Minnewaska and The Gunks. I wasn’t one of those students. I did hike
through Minnewaska one time in winter
with a group of people. That day, I wore platform boots because I wasn’t
planning on going hiking. My friend invited me to go hiking with his friends,
and I agreed. It was my first time
hiking in Minnewaska, and there were ice caps on the ground! I was walking a
mile an hour, while the experienced Minnewasksaners went much faster. Luckily
my friend stayed with me the entire time. I had this notion that the slower I
walked, the less chance I had of falling on my face. I clutched onto my
friend’s arm and didn’t say much. Everyone else was laughing and cracking jokes
as we hiked, while I was visualizing “The Blair Witch Project”. Safe to say, I didn’t enjoy that hiking trip
at all!
For most of
my life I stuck with what was comfortable for me, what I was used to doing. In
college that meant going to P&G’s on Friday, and waking up on Saturday at
noon for the China House lunch special. I now realize there were better ways to
enjoy myself like hiking through the Shawangunks with a group of friends, or
going to a campus play. Throughout my college years I never went to a single basketball game, or met Hugo the Hawk
(mascot). I simply didn’t want to try anything new.
Yet I don’t
regret it. Life is a learning experience, and my (lack of) New Paltz experiences
taught me to appreciate new adventures. Last weekend I was at the Nimham Pow
Wow; it was my first time at a Pow Wow. I wanted to try something new. Something
colorful. One of the dancers wore a bright purple robe as she spun. Watching
the colors weave with the wind was magical :)
I still
haven’t gone to a basketball game, but I went to a baseball game! My friend
took me to a Mets game a while back. It was my first time in a sports stadium.
Everything seemed gigantic yet tiny; I remembered looking around the enormous
stadium while walking with my friend across the “concession stand beltway” (don’t
know the correct term for that :) And yet, when I stared at the game below,
everything looked tiny. Growing up, I wasn’t big on sports. I currently don’t
play any sports, but I would love to watch a game! Especially the Lakers. Space
Jam was one of my favorite movies growing up. I loved Muggsy Bogues and Buggs
Bunny. My favorite scene was when Tweety Bird “distracted” defense so his team could
score. I would love to take a picture with Benny the Bull! (Chicago Bulls
mascot) I will put that on my “future” list.
Please don’t
do the same thing I did in college by sticking with a “routine”. Try something
new. Take surfing lessons. Go snorkeling on your vacation. Attend a music
festival with multi-colored lights, and TONS of drums. Sample a cuisine you’ve
never tried before. Watch a Netflix show you never would have watched. (I’m now
loving cooking competition shows, especially “Chopped”.) Try salsa dancing on the beach. Watch a scary
movie with your significant other (perfect if one person is less scared than
the other). Go ice skating in August, and try 6 Flags in the winter. Have a
Harry Potter Jelly Bean Guessing Party. Host a 90’s themed sleepover. Create a
uniquely flavored Slurpee. Say hi to that neighbor you’ve never officially met…
I believe in
YOLO, and “carpe diem”. Seize every moment, and enjoy life! Working is different
from school; we take on new responsibilities. But it doesn’t mean we have to
stop “living”. Roman poet Horace introduced “carpe diem” in 23 BCE. In 2014
Oxford Dictionaries added “YOLO” as a word. We’ve always realized the
importance of having fun :) Seize the day, and listen to Drake!
My memoir
Fall and Rise: My Journey to Happiness is on Kindle and paperback. I’ve been
through a lot of traumatic struggles, but I don’t regret anything. While
writing the sad bits, I realized the importance of laughter.
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