Have you ever done something new? You know, broken up your routine a bit, like taking a different route to work? Or try a brand new breakfast cereal?
Have you ever planned on doing something different, and as the time drew near for you to actually act on your plan you started getting stressed? Because, after all, life isn’t much more than a bundle of different routines, wrapped up and presented as day-to-day existence, and actually doing something to break out of the mold can be a little bit stressful.
Ever had a bad case of nerves?
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Ugh.
September 29th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Almost. Once. In seventh grade.
Then I chickened out.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Yes, in fact I had a big of real nerves recently as I’ve just taken a life changing step too - or at least I did 14 months ago and soon I’ve got to make things work, big time.
So yes, fella, I hear you.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I’ve felt the same sort of near-panic at least twice.
1) After arriving in London for the first time on a one-way ticket, with one suitcase, my savings, and no job (yet), I questioned my own sanity and considered taking the next flight back to the US. I ended up having a fantastic time.
2) My terror of public speaking almost compelled me to quit before my first day of teaching English. End result: I can now speak before crowds.
Wolf, you’ll be fine, just take it a day at a time!
September 29th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Pinhole: you should go back and try it again. It’s invigorating.
Really.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Chris: so you feel me? Good to know.
14 months, eh?
September 29th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Heidi: yes, it’s similar to when I arrived in Anchorage with little money, no job and no place to stay. Not quite as bad, though.
When I first read your second example, for some reason I read that you had lost bowel control. I don’t know where I got that, but I still think it’s funny.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I’m glad to learn of your apprehension. That will make those robots so much more important, meaningful and satisfying!
October 1st, 2008 at 7:22 am
Or it will make me take out my frustrations on my future minions as I launch my robot army.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I had almost the exact same experience when I made my plans to study for a short while (3 months) in Shanghai earlier this year. I had to get things set up to do so, and that whole process took a while (a year or so). The week before I left, I walked into my best friend’s house and said, “I don’t want to go to Shanghai.” She couldn’t believe it, especially when she heard it was “just because” I was scared.
I’m back in Shanghai for a few months again, ready to study and enjoy it as much as I did the first time around. Funny — the thing I was so scared of has now become part of the routine.
Will you be posting pictures of the robot army before they storm across the nations in your quest for world dominion?
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
Yes, 14 months or so. And that took some reserve.
Now I have to get my project out soon - the one I sent you.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Shelly: I’ll probably release dummy pictures that look like they’ve obviously been photoshopped. I don’t want to warn anybody too early, you know.
But you and my other loyal blog readers can have a hint: Think George Will and an octopus.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Chris: well, what are you waiting for? Chop chop!