15 Things People Were Afraid To Try An Ended Up Loving
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Life is full of moments that challenge us to step out of our comfort zones and try something new. Often, fear holds us back from these experiences, but when we gather the courage to overcome our apprehensions, the results can be extraordinary. In this blog, we explore the power of facing our fears and the transformative impact they can have on our lives. We ask the question, “What’s something you were afraid to try but ended up loving?” Join us as we share personal stories, growth, and inspiration, showcasing the incredible rewards that await when we embrace the unknown.
Adventure Sports
To start, someone said, “I started sailing at age 50 because my husband bought a boat. We didn’t know much about it, so we threw ourselves into racing, which was a pressure cooker to learn to sail well. Changed our lives, really got into the racing part, made new friends, and raced all over Lake Ontario. Old now. Just sold the boat. Had the best adventures of my life on it.”
Professional Help
One user commented, “Therapy and seeing a psychiatrist. After a lot of encouragement from my wife, I finally made an appointment to address my depression. 12 years later, I’m a different man. I’ve gone from barely being able to get out of bed to have a full-time job and an associate’s degree. If you’ve been on the fence about seeking help, I encourage you to take that step.”
Public Speaking
Someone said, “Public speaking. Just the idea of it used to strike stark terror into my soul, and I was eventually required by my work to do it. I had to deliver a 10-minute market overview to 200+ people, some of whom were C-suite professionals within the firm.”
New Food Experiences
One funny comment was, “Avocado. Something about the way it looked and the texture just put me off so much. Then I tried it, with a little dash of salt and lime juice, and it blew me away.”
Another comment simply said, “Indian Food.”
Advanced Technology
A person shared, “Self-driving vehicles. Long drives are now pretty stress-free.”
Another person replied, “An electric car. Crazy how much bad information there was. I not only daily in it but also travel and road trips. Quiet, fast, no gas. The only downside is the registration tax which is brutal, but I guess I’m not taxed at the pump.”
Driving Feats
A popular comment was, “Driving large, heavy vehicles (buses, RVs, bobtails, etc). I am now KING of the road.”
Another comment said, “I used to be afraid of the highway. Now I love changing lanes and going to the speed I want.”
Separation & Divorce
One person shared, “A separation with my partner. It was painful, but it helped. We’d needed it for years, and my being diagnosed bipolar kinda exploded the situation.”
A second person replied, “Breaking up with my ex. Can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner (and we’re both better off not together).”
New Groups
A popular comment was, “Joining a group where I didn’t know anyone in advance. In the last 3 years or so, I’ve joined a gym, a choir, and 2 book clubs. Super intimidating at first, but now I’ve met some cool people and am enjoying them all a lot more.”
Self-Care
One popular comment was, “As a guy, I never really thought about pedicures that much, and then when my wife was going for one, she offered to take me as well. Heck no… I’m not going to sit in the salon with a bunch of women and get my feet rubbed! I’m a man. G-d dang it!”
Thrill Rides
A user replied, “Okay, hear me out! Roller coasters used to scare the living daylights out of me. But when I finally mustered up the courage to give one a go, I was absolutely hooked! The adrenaline rush and the sheer thrill had me screaming with joy.”
Confronting Heights
A comment was, “Top roping at the rock climbing gym!”
Another comment said, “Ziplining.”
Animals
One person said, “Owning a dog. I wasn’t a fan of animals, and we also attempted to own one earlier, but that didn’t end up well for the dog. So this was our second attempt, and we adopted her two years ago, and now I absolutely love her.”
Another person added, “Getting over my fear of cats!! Gosh, how was I so scared of these fluffy babies.”
Water Sports
A popular comment was, “Swimming. I was afraid of the water, then my mom signed me up for swimming lessons at the Y, and that gave me confidence. I currently swim laps for my cardio exercises.”
Another said, “White water rafting.”
Trying New Fitness Regimens
A user said, “Weight lifting! I was scared of being picked on by gym bros. I got a personal trainer and learned a variety of lifting skills, and it was also extremely enjoyable.”
A second user added, “Going to the gym. I was afraid everyone would look at me, or I would try and look stupid or give up too easy, hurt myself, or just get bored of doing repeated exercises.”
Moving Away
One person shared, “Part of me always wanted to move away from my hometown just to, like, live my life and experience new things, but I wasn’t sure if it would work out. After I graduated college, I got a job and moved 1000 miles away. Probably the best decision I ever made.”
Another person added, “Moving overseas. We had the opportunity back in 2005 to move to Okinawa, and I freaked and shut the job and moved on. Got another shot in 2016 to move to Korea. I really regret not starting earlier in life. Korea was absolutely amazing and one of the best 5 years of our lives. I even went from being Republican (family influence) to wanting universal health care, free college, and student loan forgiveness. And I went from you’ll never take my guns, to more red tape, more hoops to jump through, and being scared of my daughter going to school when we returned to the States. It’s crazy how much traveling outside of America will open your eyes.”
Source: Reddit
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