First Experiences Are So Special…Why Don’t We Strive For More?
Summer has folded into autumn as the year rolls into the final quarter. The blistering summer intensity is replaced by a tranquility and winding down. The air, scaling up to mid-20’s in the day, immediately acquires a bite of chill the moment the sun sets. Soon, the colours of nature will start to deepen into beautiful rich hues. This will be my first experience of autumn in Marbella.
First Autumn
Crisp sunny days with a clear blue sky and water warm enough to swim in. There are still plenty of activities on the beach: sun-bathing, kite-surfing and other water sports. A stroll along the Paseo Maritimo, stretching from Puerto Banús to Playa de la Bajadilla, is no longer a feat to out-manoeuvre roller skaters, e-scooters, cyclists and tourists.
Though my husband and I bought our apartment last summer, resulting from a re-think of our retirement strategy, we barely had time to set it up before having to return to the Netherlands shortly after. So I’m letting myself be mesmerised by the many first experiences of autumn here, soaking up every jewel it has to offer.
I can enjoy the gentle breezes, swaying palms and beautiful blooms at a leisurely pace. Smell of char-grilled seafood beckons throughout the waterfront promenade. It’s possible to duck into any restaurant without prior reservation. How delightful! Little wonder that Spain is a special place in the sun. This is how I will always remember my first autumn in Marbella.
First Experiences
Why are first experiences so special, regardless of the outcomes? What make them etch so deeply in our memories and hearts? While I don’t remember all my first experiences, those that I do, I remember vividly. Like right down to the details of what I wore at my first job interview 🙂
Being active in sports during school days, I did field hockey, athletics and swimming competitively. Despite subsequent record-breaking feats, my first medal when I was 10 remains my proudest and most precious. And through sports, I’ve learnt the most important life lessons: discipline, taking chances, not second-guessing split-second decisions, sportsmanship, fair play, team-spirit, grace in victory and especially, resilience in defeat.
My first roller coaster ride (Wipeout) at Dreamworld in Gold Coast Australia was such a scream…literally. Grown men came off the ride with pee strips in their pants and I witnessed spectacles, wallets even dentures falling into the water below. I had no idea I was such an adrenaline junkie until that first ride, which started a series of visiting famous theme parks in America, like Knott’s Berry Farm, Disney World, Universal Studio and Six Flags.
The first time I saw the gigantic redwood trees at Sequoia National Park, I was moved to tears. Awed by their majestic uprightness, standing tall for more than 1,000 years. I was humbled by my own insignificance and came away with a new respect for nature. Reminded of how transient life is, I resolved to live it to the fullest, right there and then.
These first experiences left an indelible mark, tucking at my heart and mind. My travels to America created great memories and fondness that eventually led to a boldness to invest in US real estate during the subprime mortgage crisis. Without those early first experiences, America would have been too far and too far-fetched to invest in.
First = New
First experiences can only come with doing something new. The novelty brings out a range of emotions: excitement, apprehension, fear, thrill, curiosity, joy…Taking on something new awakes our senses, tickles our imagination and arouses emotions that have been trampled upon by the grinds of routine. New experiences make us feel alive. It is living life with a ‘Why Not?’ attitude, to seize the day.
New experiences test our limits, create new impressions and memories, and are fertile grounds for new knowledge. First experiences challenge status quo, break down assumptions and lead to new perspectives of others as well as ourselves. They open up new possibilities, add vibrancy and enrich our lives with a kaleidoscope of colours and burst of flavours.
If first experiences are so magical, why do we not have more of them?
Familiarity = Safety
Because it is easier to take refuge in safety and familiarity. Same restaurants, same old dishes, same type of music, same s*** at the office, same vacation spots, keeping the same company. There’s a strange comfort in familiarity, that known feeling with the same outcome. Predictable and safe.
These routines do not require stepping out of comfort zones. But by not trying new things, we dig ourselves into a rut, existing instead of living.
When we stop experiencing new things, we stop learning, stop growing, become jaded and no longer create new memories. Life becomes smaller, limited by our memory bank.
Most people shun new experiences, especially in later years, because we become novice and are subject to vulnerability again. Losing grip is a sign of weakness, or so we are taught. But really?
While some first experiences can be hard in later years, like skiing or learning a new language, they still deliver a bunch of benefits. Drawing from my own experience with skiing, I fell multiple times but got to know my own limits emotionally (fear of falling) and physically (weak knees). And the many precious memories of breath-taking pristine Alpine sceneries and apres ski evenings sitting around wood fires recounting adventures on the ski slopes – priceless! I also tasted my first raclette, oh-so-yummy! Memories, and life, are made of these.
No Regrets
I don’t want to lie on my deathbed regretting not having done this, been there or tried that. I refuse to waste my greatest gift. Instead, I want to draw from a treasure trove filled to the brim with experiences – good and bad – and celebrate a life of richness.
So what if some are silly, like falling on ski slopes or making embarrassing faux pas when speaking Spanish? I will get a chuckle out of them, and taste life through these memory dividends…again and again.
Why not strive for new challenges and experiences? Chase that feeling of being alive, be awaken by your senses, intrigued by new impressions and knowledge. Don’t wait to save the best for last, make it happen now. Let’s live!
For after all, isn’t life the sum of our experiences?
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all” ~ Oscar Wilde
Live well, live vibrantly
Savvy Maverick
(Main image: Savvy Maverick)
Disclaimer: The views expressed are drawn from personal experiences and do not constitute financial advice in any way whatsoever. Nothing published here constitutes an investment recommendation, nor should any data or content be relied upon for investment activities. Please seek independent and thorough research before making any financial decisions, including consulting a qualified professional. Data and information cited from sources will not be updated after publication.
