First times

Do you remember when you did something for the first time? Perhaps the first time you kissed someone, the first time you held a presentation in class or the first time you tried a new hobby. How did it feel?

 

This is my first blog post. So I thought this was an appropriate topic. Every time we do something for the first time, we take a step into the unknown. For a new activity, business or private, we don’t really know how things work or what social rules are in place. We might feel inadequate, like we don’t fit in. We are unsure if we have what it takes. For new people in our lives, there’s the fear of rejection, or disappointment. What if we’re not accepted? What if they don’t like us? What if we don’t like them?

 

But that’s only half of the story. There is also the magic of something new. We express ourselves by being brave and vulnerable. We want something and take responsibility by taking action towards it. We ask the hard question. We take the first step toward someone we like. We suggest our idea. And while this can be terrifying, it can also feel great. We’re like a child that doesn’t know the rules and simply explores, in awe about what’s going to happen.

 

I remember one story where I tried something for the first time, and failed. I was a student at a private university and was stacking up a lot of bills. I really wanted to get a scholarship to cover the tuition. So, with a lot of support from my family and friends, I decided to apply. And got rejected. I felt heartbroken. But, you see, it’s not about winning. It’s about taking the first step. If I hadn’t applied the immediate response would have been ‚no‘. I wouldn’t even have known if I had a chance. One year later, I applied again and got offered the scholarship. I even learned why they rejected me the first time.

 

Doing something for the first time is a leap of faith. Yes, it is scary. Yes, we don’t know if it is going to work. But only if we try something new, can we change and grow into more of our potentialities.