My First, First-Time list.

I wish I knew all the things I should do to make my life really matter. I don’t.

Sometimes I get a taste, like when I turn off my phone and wrestle my two-year old, or show up with Starbucks for my wife after a long night. Anything else though, can seem like a real mystery.

One thing I have found, is that real meaning is often the reward for courage. If you’re afraid of it, it’s probably worth doing it.

Want to know one of my nagging regrets in life? I never studied abroad in college.

I know, I know…not the end of the world. But if you know me, you’ll know I spent hours in the international programs office, researching trips and working out finances for an adventure quite uncharacteristic of me. I ultimately said “no” because I would of been a semester behind. Everyone finishes in 4-years I reasoned…I didn’t want to be “that guy.”

I bet I think of that missed opportunity once-a-week. That extra semester means nothing now, but the language and learning would be with for me life. Did you know that I’ve been asked multiple times about my experience abroad in interviews? Not once have I been asked if I finished school in 4-years.

One of my favorite bloggers, Jeff Goins, recently tweeted “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” This question struck me…and Jeff, it’s been a while. Think of all the “firsts” in your life… first kiss, first day driving, first job, first kid. All of these events required a jump into the unknown.

A committment to ‘first times’ is exactly what most of us need to set a course toward meaningful living. Since fear is the default response to the unknown, if my agenda is nothing more than doing things I’ve never done, I’m making a literal habit of crushing fear. I like that.

So I’m starting a First-Time list. I’m going to commit to one thing per month that I’ve never done. Big or small, by year’s end I’ll have experienced nine new things. NINE! can’t really remember doing one. I’ll plan to post as I do them.

QUESTION: What new things do you need to try? Let me know and let’s keep each other accountable.

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