Bring a friend – or someone you’d like to get to know better – and try something neither of you knows how to do
When was the last time you did something for the very first time? Something you were a complete beginner at. No fancy gear, no perfect technique, and absolutely no idea what you were doing.
The older we get, the easier it is to stick to the things we already know. But where’s the fun in that? There’s something pretty great about being a beginner. Laughing at your wonky pottery, falling off the climbing wall after three seconds, or discovering that you apparently have zero sense of rhythm.
So this autumn, we’re voting for being bad at more things.
Two beginners are better than one
And you don’t have to do it alone. Ask a friend to try something new with you. Or, even better, ask someone you don’t know that well yet. The person you sometimes chat to after class. The neighbour you always bump into in the lift. Someone you’ve met a few times and would like to hang out with more.
“Want to try a beginners’ climbing class?” can actually be a lot easier to ask than “Do you want to be my new friend?”. And when neither of you knows what you’re doing, you instantly have something to talk – and probably laugh – about.
Okay, but what should we try?
Here are a few ideas for two beginners:
Bouldering. Rent some shoes, find the easiest wall and start there.
Pottery. Throw, roll, sculpt. Wonky is a style.
Dancing. Salsa? Street dance? Lindy hop? Bonus points if neither of you has any rhythm.
Crochet or knitting. Find an easy tutorial and make an evening of it.
Photo walk. Pick a theme, grab your phone or camera and see who can find the best shots around town.
Cook something you’ve never made before. Dumplings, pasta from scratch or that dish you always order when you eat out.
Try a new workout. Boxing, yoga, a running group, padel – choose something neither of you usually does.
Go to a quiz night. You don’t need to know everything. A great team name goes a long way.
I doesn’t really matter what you choose. The point is to dare to be new at something.
So, who could you send a “shall we try it?” message to this autumn?
