Life lessons: Trying something new

Generation Fabulous bloggers Ruth Nemzoff (seated), Barbara Feldman, and Ellen Dolgen

One of the things that can happen to you as you approach mid-life is that your life can narrow down. It might be imperceptible at first, but as time goes by you gradually stop doing things. You feel a little tired, so you skip a party. Your chores pile up, so you postpone date night. You don’t feel like getting changed, so you decline an invitation to an art opening.

Then before you know it, you have a very small circle of friends. That circle includes your cat or dog. You are—shall I say it?—dull. You have little to talk about except TV, sports, and the adorable thing your cat or dog just did.

And that’s why I love food blogging. In the last two years I’ve met the most amazing people. People I would never have met otherwise. I had lunch in Portland on a blind date with Spabettie after connecting on Twitter. She’s 20+ years younger than me, gluten-free and vegan, and we had an absolute blast talking about food and food photography.

The sparkly Kristina Sloggett, aka Spabettie, at New Cascadia gluten-free bakery in Portland

I went to Mexico and relived my early 20s while talking about the art of lacquering chickens with food stylist extraordinaire Adam Pearson.

I went to Camp in the woods and met a whole new group of food bloggers, many of whom write about healthy eating, and now we have a Facebook group.

I went to France. I had wanted to go to France since studying French in 5th grade. On my 50th birthday, we took the train to a small town in Provence to meet up with Angela, who I had met in Mexico.

In Angela’s back yard on a very hot Provence afternoon

I found myself at one of those meals, those special meals that other foodies seem to write about all the time, where every dish was perfect, the company was sparkling, and the meal went on for hours.

I went to a vegan potluck and met some incredible people who are working in cancer prevention and raw foods.

I connected with a local chef on Facebook and gave him a pizzelle maker that had been languishing in the cupboard for a decade.

I went to the TEDActive conference and met a ton of new people. And gave a ride to a total stranger from Germany to the conference. And another one, named Daniel, I drove back to San Diego. Daniel is a global citizen: Croatian parents, raised in Germany, lives in Mexico, works in Chile. We had lots to talk about during the 3-hour drive home.

Daniel having a “truly American” experience: fast food egg rolls.

An unexpected side benefit is that I feel better than I’ve felt in a long, long time. More energized. More excited about my regular work. I don’t know where this blogging is going to take me, but I’m so glad I jumped in and tried.

What have you been longing to try in your life, but were afraid, or too tired, or too busy? What are you waiting for?